Crime & Safety
Selfie-Taking Man Slips Into River Near Great Falls: Report
The Potomac River was above flood stage when the man fell in. Swimming is always prohibited due to the dangerous conditions at Great Falls.
GREAT FALLS, VA—A man taking a selfie by Great Falls had a near-deadly fall into the Potomac River Sunday, officials in Montgomery County, Md. say.
The man fell from Olmstead Island on the Maryland side of the river near Great Falls, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said.
Bystanders helped pull the man out of the water before help arrived, Fox 5's Evan Lambert reported. Rescue units found him near Oldstead Island on shore. He was taken to the hospital. Piringer told Fox5 the man's injuries were serious but not life-threatening.
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DRAMATIC VIDEO: Video sent by a FOX5 viewer as a man was rescued by good Samaritans Sunday after he reportedly fell into the Potomac River while taking a selfie. https://t.co/wnzNkF59YT pic.twitter.com/zjfOqHJivR
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) October 1, 2018
Update - MCFRS crews located patient near Olmstead Is, the patient is on shore, EMS evaluating 1 adult trauma patient, who may have been in water at some point https://t.co/HfmePDBl5S
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) September 30, 2018
The Potomac River was above flood stage when the man fell in, Piringer said. Swimming is prohibited in the Great Falls area due to strong currents, but conditions were especially dangerous after recent rainfall caused the river to swell. Video posted by Great Falls Park on Friday showed the rushing water at a high level near one of the overlooks.
Find out what's happening in McLeanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Image of Great Falls via NPS
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