Police Identify Gaithersburg Swimmer Who Drowned At Rocky Gorge Reservoir

POTOMAC, MD — A man swimming with a group of friends Tuesday afternoon drowned in the Patuxent River at Rocky Gorge Reservoir. Montgomery County Police say the swimmer who died as Douglas Alex Merino, 20, from the 500 block of Summit Hall Road in Gaithersburg.

The drowning was reported about 4:45 p.m. Crews from Montgomery County Fire & Rescue, Howard County Fire & Rescue, and Natural Resources Police responded to the reservoir. About 6:05 p.m., rescue personnel recovered the victim’s body in the water; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say Merino and two friends went to the reservoir to fish. Merino entered the water to swim and was seen struggling in the water before going under, police said, and he didn't re-surface. The victim’s friends called 9-1-1.

Merino's death was ruled an accidental drowning, after an autopsy by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Baltimore, police said.

Public safety responders offer these water safety reminders:

Swimming in lakes, rivers, or other natural bodies of water should only occur at a designated swimming area that is protected by lifeguards.

Always respect signs posted at natural bodies of water prohibiting bathing, wading or swimming. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission notes on its website that these are prohibited activities at the Rocky Gorge Reservoir. These activities are also prohibited in the Potomac River at Great Falls Park in Maryland and Virginia.

If you have not seen a sign or a designated swimming area, always assume that any natural body of water is too dangerous for bathing, wading or swimming. Swimming in a natural body of water is different from swimming in a pool. Particularly for a novice swimmer, but even for an experienced swimmer, more skills and energy are required for natural water environments because there are:

• Fast-moving currents, waves and rapids, even in shallow water
• Hazards, such as dams, underwater obstacles, or rocks or debris moving on the surface or along the bottom of the water
• Sudden drop-offs that change water depths
• Aquatic life, such as vegetation that could entangle feet and arms
• Conditions can change quickly