20-year-old university student missing in Potomac River; search resumes Monday
Family speaks as search continues for missing swimmer in Potomac River
FOX 5 D.C.'s Bob Barnard has the latest.
POTOMAC, Md. - Search crews returned to the Potomac River Monday after an extensive overnight effort to find a 20-year-old university student, who disappeared while swimming near Great Falls.
What we know:
FOX 5’s Maureen Umeh said the search was suspended late Sunday night following hours of work by dozens of first responders from Maryland and Virginia. Crews searched by land, boat and air but were unable to locate the missing man.
The operation stretched for hours Sunday evening along the river after reports of a swimmer in distress. Emergency crews were called to the area near Billy Goat Trail A and Sandy Landing just after 6 p.m.
FOX 5 DC learned on Monday that the missing swimmer is 20-year-old Nazir Bell, a Towson University student from Germantown, Maryland.
Authorities say Bell became separated from a group while in the water and never resurfaced.
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Fairfax County Swift-Water Rescue teams and U.S. Park Police launched a large-scale search involving boats, ground crews and a helicopter. Officials say as many as eight boats and about 45 rescue personnel searched the river and shoreline, using underwater sonar in an effort to locate him.
Search resumes Monday for swimmer missing in Potomac River
Search crews are expected to return to the Potomac River Monday after an extensive overnight effort to find a swimmer who disappeared near Great Falls.
Despite hours of searching, crews were unable to locate the 20-year-old swimmer. He was last seen wearing blue shorts.
The search continued on Monday, with additional crews including the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the Montgomery County Police Department Managed Search Operation Team assisting in the operation.
On Monday, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said swift water boats and the U.S. Park Police Eagle 1 helicopter have been deployed. Several additional swift water boat teams are expected to join the operation by the afternoon. Piringer said search crews are using sonar and thermal imaging equipment to aid in the effort.
The Potomac River near Great Falls is known for its powerful currents and dangerous conditions, and authorities routinely warn visitors to stay out of restricted areas.
The Source: Information in this article comes from Montgomery County (MD) Fire & Rescue and previous FOX 5 reporting