Swimmer Presumed Drowned In Potomac Near Great Falls: MCFRS

POTOMAC, MD — A young man is presumed to have drowned after jumping into the Potomac River south of Great Falls Monday night.

Pete Piringer, spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, said the man jumped off the cliffs and into the river in Virginia around 5:30 p.m.

"He went under and never resurfaced," Piringer said.

The county's swift water rescue teams were deployed on Sunday and they searched until sunset, he said. Crews resumed their search Monday morning but believe the swimmer is now dead.

Swimming is not permitted in the Potomac River. Only kayaking and boating, however, are OK.

"This is considered to be a cold water environment, number one, but most importantly it has very strong currents," Piringer said. (The water) looks very serene, very peaceful, very calm. It's not."

Piringer said parking at Great Falls Park, near Old Angler's Inn in Potomac, is now closed.