Prince George's County Man Drowns in Potomac River

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Authorities on Friday identified a Prince George's County man who drowned Tuesday in the Potomac River.

The victim is being identified as Abdul Qadir, 28, of the 6200 block of Fernwood Terrace in Riverdale.

About 6:10 p.m. Tuesday, Montgomery County Police officers, along with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel, were called to a possible drowning of a man in the river near Great Falls. Witnesses said Qadir waded into the water, then slipped and was taken under the water by the strong current and undertow. Officers were told that the victim did not know how to swim.

Montgomery County Police search and rescue officers, along with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel, searched the river but could not locate Qadir that evening, or on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, a kayaker called 9-1-1 reporting a body in the water. Police and firefighters went to the Potomac River between Offutt Island and the Maryland shoreline and found Qadir. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

»Photos from search for missing swimmer, courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services