The body of a 16-year-old boy was recovered from the Potomac River Friday, according to Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Daniel Ogren.
The boy’s family has been notified, and his remains have been turned over to the Montgomery County Police Department and the medical examiner, Ogren said.
The boy, who first responders have not yet identified, went missing Thursday at Great Falls Park.
After an unsuccessful search and rescue mission Thursday, search crews resumed their efforts to find the teenager on Friday. His body was recovered Friday morning.
The fatal incident took place as the region enters the Fourth of July weekend under an extreme heat advisory, with temperatures reaching triple digits. Ogren noted that the heat impeded operations, forcing officials to limit search windows and frequently rotate crews to protect first responders.
The fire department’s Swift Water Team originally responded to the scene at approximately 6:15 a.m. Thursday. According to the department’s public informatino officer, Assistant Chief David Pazos, the teenager was with a group when he entered the water and failed to resurface.
The Montgomery County team, alongside the Fairfax County Swift Water Rescue Team, searched for hours on Thursday before pausing overnight. Ogren said crews resumed the search at 8 a.m. Friday.
“This has been really unprecedented heat the last couple of days and it has hampered all of our operations, not just on the river. We have a lot of concerns for our people out there operating,” Ogren said.
As the holiday weekend begins, officials are reiterating strict warnings against swimming in the Potomac River. Ogren emphasized that swimming in the Potomac is not only illegal but also extremely dangerous.
“It’s deceiving. It looks very peaceful,” Ogren said. “You can see it flowing, but it doesn’t look dangerous. So people are somewhat deceived about how quickly the water is flowing, how fast the current is going.”
Less than three weeks ago, Towson University student Nazir Bell, 20, went missing while swimming with a group in the Potomac at Great Falls. His body was recovered three days after he was reported missing.
Ogren said an area of the river that appears slow moving or shallow can quickly transition into extremely deep water with strong currents capable of pulling a person under in moments.
“Without a life jacket and without the proper training, that river can be deadly,” he said. “It’s one of the most dangerous operations we, as first responders, perform for our job.”
This story has been updated.
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