Beach Patrol Responds to After Hours Swimmer in Distress (Swimmer Identified)

Ocean City, Maryland – (August 1, 2017): Members of the Ocean City Beach Patrol went off duty at their regularly scheduled time of 5:30 p.m. yesterday, Monday, July 31, after clearing all swimmers from the ocean. At 7:19 p.m. Ocean City Communications dispatchers began to receive calls for swimmers in distress in the area of 1st street, where witnesses on the beach reported seeing a person in the water who became submerged.

Surf Rescue Technician’s (SRT) working extended mobile patrol arrived in the area of 1st Street and the beach, followed by Ocean City Fire Department rescue swimmers and members of the Coast Guard and Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Beach Patrol Surf Rescue technicians along with fire department rescue swimmers immediately began performing search and recovery diving techniques.

The distressed swimmer, Timothy Thompson, 35, from Prince George, VA, was located shortly after the arrival of first responders and brought onto the beach where paramedics began CPR. Ocean City EMS transported Thompson to Atlantic General Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

“We urge our beach patrons to swim only when the lifeguards are on duty and to take the time to walk to and swim in front of the lifeguard,” commented Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joseph Theobald. “Our deepest sympathies are with the family who lost a loved one today.”