Laurel Boy Drowns on Birthday at Summer Camp

The boy who drowned on his birthday in Baltimore County Friday was identified as a Laurel teen.

Dennis Kemp, who turned 13 on Friday, was at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville Friday with the Silver Spring-based Camp Sonshine when he went missing, according to police.

Kemp, of the 3000 block of Old Channel Road in Laurel, had passed a swim test and was in the water at the park when witnesses saw him in distress at 12:26 p.m. on Friday, Baltimore County public safety officials reported.

Lifeguards immediately went into the water in the roped swimming area where he had last been spotted, then crews from the Baltimore County Fire Department responded and took over the search, which continued until Kemp’s body was recovered at 3:08 p.m., the report said.

Tactical rescuers from Texas Station 17, Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company’s water rescue unit, the Middle River Volunteer Ambulance Rescue Company’s Dive Unit, Carroll County’s Dive Unit and other local companies assisted, according to the report.

Kemp was found in 45 feet of water, the report said.