Good Samaritan, Rescue Swimmers Aid Distressed Body Boarders

OCEAN CITY — In one of the earliest ocean rescues in the resort in recent memory, two body-boarders in distress were pulled from the water on Sunday afternoon with the assistance of a Good Samaritan surfer and three Ocean City Fire Department rescue swimmers.

Around 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, Ocean City Fire Department rescue swimmers were dispatched to the area of 16th Street for a report of two swimmers in distress. Two inexperienced body boarders, neither of whom were wearing wetsuits, became distressed and began to be swept into an apparent rip current.

The body-boarders abandoned their boards and began attempting to swim to shore to no avail. A surfer nearby paddled over to the distressed swimmers, who were able to hang on the surf board temporarily.

Three OCFD rescue swimmers, including Ocean City Councilman Matt James, Mick Chester and Ben Waples arrived minutes later and affected a rescue of the swimmers. James was the first to arrive and enter the water. Chester and Waples arrived a short time later.

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