A 16-year-old boy who went missing while swimming in the Potomac River was found dead Saturday, Montgomery County officials confirmed.
Montgomery County search and rescue teams recovered the teen's body near Great Falls Park around 9:30 a.m. on Friday. Authorities have not released his name, and an autopsy is pending to determine the cause and manner of death.
The teen had been swimming near the 10800 block of MacArthur Boulevard with friends when he was pulled underwater. He never resurfaced. A call for help was then placed around 6:30 a.m. Thursday.
"We are actively looking for the victim right now,” someone can be heard saying on a dispatch call.
The Montgomery County Government posted a statement on its official social media accounts calling the drowning "a tragic reminder that the Potomac River is never a safe place to swim." The statement urged residents to respect all warning signs and stay out of the water, warning that strong currents and hidden hazards can quickly become deadly.
Swimming in the Potomac is illegal
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service said swimming or wading in the Potomac River is illegal, and signage is posted along the riverbank warning people to stay out. The agency noted that the river can appear calm on the surface but reaches depths of 30 feet in places, with powerful currents underneath that are not visible from shore.
Officials are urging Bethesda-area residents to use county pools instead of the river during the summer months, according to the county's announcement.
