2 Montgomery County men recovered after boating incident in Charles County

COBB ISLAND, Md. - In the last 18 months, 16 people have died on Maryland waters, officials say.

Spokeswoman Candy Thomson with Maryland Natural Resources Police says the summer to come is already looking like it will be a deadly one for boaters in the state.

On Saturday night, two Montgomery County men were found dead, officials say, after they were recovered from the Potomac River in Southern Maryland.

Maryland Natural Resources Police say brothers 47-year-old and Eriberto Ferrufino, and 43-year-old Franklin Ferrufino were recovered from the water in Charles County after officials say they found their boat on the water, turning in circles around 10:30 p.m.

Crews had been looking for the Ferrufinos, they said, after their boat, a 13-foot Boston Whaler, was found empty near Cobb Island in Charles County.

This season already, there have been 9 deaths, which was the total from last year alone. None of the people who died had been wearing a life vest.

"Life jackets are your personal first line of defense. All of our victims this year were certainly in sight of shore. In many cases help was on the way. That life jacket gives you an opportunity to stay afloat until we can get there," said Thomson.

Officials are also looking to make an effort to reach out to the Hispanic community. Six of the nine deaths this year were Hispanic.

Officials say they are continuing to look into the cause of the accident.