BALTIMORE – The Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing 17-year-old male swimmer in Stoney Creek, Pasadena, at 9:02 a.m. Thursday.
At approximately 11 p.m. Wednesday, watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region received a report of a missing swimmer last seen with his family off the Elizabeth Landing Community Boat Ramp beach in Pasadena. Numerous family members, including the 17-year-old, were swimming near the boat ramp, however the 17-year-old did not return to shore with the others.
Watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast Notice to Mariners and deployed a Coast Guard Station Curtis Bay 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew and a Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to begin searching the area.
Rescue crews searched for a combined 11 hours after receiving the report.
During the search, search crews faced strong thunderstorms with wind gusts reported over 39 mph.
“This is a truly tragic moment,” said Cmdr. Rob Concepcion, the Chief of Response for Sector Maryland–National Captial Region. “Our hearts ache for the missing swimmer’s family and friends. Despite the stormy weather and the Coast Guard being understaffed right now, we had numerous crews scouring the area in hopes of bringing the swimmer home safely.”
Partner agencies that assisted in the search include:
- Arundel County Fire Department fireboat crew
- Arundel County Police Department responders
- Maryland Natural Resources Police responders
- Baltimore City Fire Department responders
A Station Curtis Bay boatcrew is on-scene providing support to partner agencies conducting dive operations.
Editor’s Note: Out of respect for the family, the missing swimmer’s name will not be released.
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