'One Swimmer Missing' Wednesday in Water Rescue at Great Falls

Two men in their 20s went swimming in the Potomac River near Great Falls Wednesday afternoon and one of them is missing after a thorough search by authorities from Fairfax County, Montgomery County and the U.S. Park Police.

The two were “cliff jumping” into the water from the Northern Virginia shoreline near Great Falls, according to Montgomery County spokesman Pete Piringer.

Boaters tried to rescue them; one swimmer made it to shore, while the other was last seen floating down the middle of the river, Piringer said.

“Currents are very strong and swimming is prohibited in the area,” Piringer said.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue swift water rescue teams were dispatched at about 2:24 p.m. from the Great Falls station, helping their counterparts from Montgomery County. The U.S. Park Police provided a helicopter to search from the air, a spokeswoman said.

The Fairfax County team deployed from the lower parking lot at Great Falls Park, according to a fire department spokeswoman.

As of 4:35 p.m., Piringer said, ”the search has turned up nothing.”

Piringer said the hope is that the missing swimmer found his way to shore; he also said that the search will continue on Thursday if the person is not found.

PHOTOS courtesy of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue