Teen Jumps Into Freezing Potomac River Near Great Falls

GREAT FALLS, VA—A Virginia teenager was rescued from the Potomac River near Great Falls as water temperatures were near the 40s.

The man deliberately jumped into the water before going underwater, WTOP reported. Montgomery County and Fairfax County helped rescue the man after acquaintances had called 911. He was found appearing distressed at Rocky Island, a mile downstream from where he jumped in.

The teen was taken to the hospital in a "near drowning" condition, according to Pete Piringer, a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman.

Swimming is banned in this portion of the Potomac River due to the dangerous currents. Numbers of people have drowned in this area of the river in previous years.

“From time to time, we do have people that think they can enter the water—typically, it’s during the warm weather months,” Piringer told WTOP. “Again, the currents are very deceiving, it has proven to be a drowning machine in some cases, so there are a lot of signs posted up that indicate and talk about the dangers.”

Image via Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service