MARYLAND

Coast Guard, beach patrol rescue person from rip current

DelmarvaNow Staff Report

U.S. Coast Guard and Ocean City Beach Patrol personnel practice an inlet rescue.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people from the water in Ocean City on Sunday.

The Coast Guard Station Ocean City received a report from Ocean City Beach Patrol stating a person on the north end of the jetty was swept into the inlet by the current, according to a news release from the Coast Guard.

Two members of the beach patrol jumped in the water to assist but were also swept out by the current, the Coast Guard said.

Ocean City Beach Patrol said in a statement that in this case alcohol was a factor and the victim had been warned not to go into the water but decided to enter the water and swim directly into a rip current.

Station Ocean City launched a boat crew and pulled all three people to safety. No injuries were reported.

The beach patrol said its lifeguard followed protocol for inlet rescues under which the lifeguards take a victim safely around the North Jetty to avoid injuries.

Under the protocol, the lifeguard who initiates the rescue works to keep the victim afloat and calm while a second lifeguard watches out for boat traffic and holds the buoy overhead and uses their whistle to warn other boats.

A radio call is also made to guide the Coast Guard and an OCBP water craft to the location.

The beach patrol said it practices this scenario with both the Coast Guard and Natural Resources Police.