Rip currents, 'perfect storm' of conditions inundate Ocean City with water rescues Sunday

OCEAN CITY, Md. — The Ocean City Fire Department performed several water rescues Sunday, including one incident that left a man in critical condition, after strong rip currents churned up the ocean. 

On Sunday OCFD responded to nine water rescue calls throughout the day, according to department public information officer Ryan Whittington.

In the case of the critical patient, the fire department received a call about an individual in distress in the ocean near Fifth Street just before 2 p.m., Whittington said.

“Our fire department rescue swimmer arrived on scene and observed a male subject who was floating in the water," Whittington said. "Multiple of our fire department rescue swimmers responded into the ocean."

Personnel from the Ocean City Beach Patrol arrived on scene and helped perform CPR once the male victim was brought back to shore, Whittington said.

The male subject was transported to Atlantic General Hospital in critical condition Sunday, according to Whittington, and no update on his status was available Monday morning.

Prior to that call OCFD deployed its rescue swimmers to the beach because of how many water rescues the department was responding to, Whittington said.

Large waves and strong rip currents created hazardous conditions, causing multiple swimmers at a time to be trapped in the surf and need rescue.

The National Weather Services in Wakefield, Virginia, warned beachgoers going into the weekend about the high potential for strong rip currents between the Maryland and Virginia coastline.

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Forecasters predicted 3-4 foot surf on Saturday and Sunday in Ocean City and the potential of rip currents, warning the public to avoid entering the water at beaches without lifeguards. 

In multiple cases, rescue swimmers with OCFD responded to emergencies where up to eight individuals were in distress, Whittington said. In most cases the victims were out of the water by the time first responders arrived, but at least 15 individuals were treated and/or rescued by OCFD on Sunday.

“It, unfortunately, was the perfect storm,” Whittington said. “There's a storm brewing off the coast increasing our potential for rip currents, people are in Ocean City enjoying the beautiful weather we had yesterday and with our beach patrol was not on duty.”

While some beach patrol personnel are around, lifeguards don't officially start patrolling until Saturday. Ocean City Beach Patrol also warned beachgoers last week to stay out of the water until lifeguards took to their stands.

The Ocean City Fire Department is responsible for water rescues when the Ocean City Beach Patrol isn't on duty, Whittington said. During the summer that means anytime after 5:30 p.m.

Several years ago the fire department formed its water rescue team because it noticed beachgoers kept entering the ocean after the beach patrol went off duty, Whittington said. The team is made up of rescue swimmers and public safety divers, and works closely with beach patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland Natural Resources Police.

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