OCPD INVESTIGATE DEATH IN THE INLET

On August 14, 2012, at approximately 3 p.m. Ocean City Police, Beach Patrol and Fire Departments responded to the Ocean City Inlet, in reference to people in the water just east of the ticket booth area. Ocean City emergency personnel arrived at the scene and were advised that an adult male and a small child had been walking along the sea wall at the inlet when the man and the child fell from the sea wall.

The victim, who was later identified as Stephen Richard Ostan, 49, of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, and his 2-year-old child struck the rocks during the fall. According to witnesses, the 2-year-old child was in the water clinging to the rocks below the retaining wall when an unidentified female citizen climbed down the sea wall and recovered the child. The citizen was able to pass the child to other citizens on top of the retaining wall.

A privately owned boat with two citizens attempted to recover Ostan, who had an apparent head injury. At this time, the citizens were assisted by members of the Ocean City Beach Patrol and the Ocean City Fire Department. In addition, a boat and crew from Surf Side Parasail assisted with the recovery of Ostan, who was put on the parasail boat and taken to the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Ocean City.

Ostan’s 2-year-old child was taken by Ocean City Emergency Services to Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) where the child was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released. In addition, Ocean City Paramedics met the rescuers at the Coast Guard station and transported Ostan to AGH where he was pronounced dead. The cause and manner of death will be investigated by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Maryland.

The investigation, which is being handled by the Ocean City Police Department, is on-going. Due to the nature of the investigation, the names of the witnesses and citizens involved are not being released at this time. The Ocean City Police Department would like to acknowledge the courageous actions by the citizens and public safety employees who assisted in this incident.