A 16-year-old boy is in critical condition after a water rescue in Anne Arundel County over the weekend. The fire officials responded to a 911 call on Saturday, just past 3:30 p.m., reporting a teenager who jumped off a pier into Stoney Creek and did not resurface, according to WBALTV. Located within the 8400 block of Bay Drive in the Riviera Beach area, divers and paramedics rushed to the scene.
The search for the missing teen involved the Anne Arundel County Fire Department dive team members and a fireboat. Recovered from the water around 5 p.m., the teenager was taken to a nearby hospital in a critical condition. Diving into the creek, first responders and dive team members faced an urgent race against time to locate the young man.
Despite the intense and rapid rescue efforts, the teen later passed away, as Chesapeake Bay Magazine reported. Lieutenant Jenny McCallair highlighted that cold water can increase the chances of survival in submerged victims due to the delayed onset of brain damage, saying, "When a water rescue victim has been submerged in colder water, policy states that crews immediately start resuscitation." The water temperature at the time was recorded at 57 degrees. Regardless, the boy was pronounced dead following the attempts to save his life.
Local officials urge the public to stay aware of the varying water conditions that characterize the Chesapeake Bay waterways. Anne Arundel County Fire Department advises that water depth and conditions can swiftly change, which has become painfully evident with the recent incidents in Stoney Creek.
