Crime & Safety

2 Rescued from Potomac River

Rescue service crews rescued two people whose canoe flipped in the Potomac River on Wednesday.

Two people were rescued from the Potomac River near Great Falls in Potomac on Wednesday at around 1 p.m., according to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

The two had been canoeing on the river when their boat flipped. No one was injured, the rescue service reported on Twitter.

Last month, the rescue service posted a video on YouTube about the Potomac River's dangerous currents, Patch reported.

The river along the Great Falls Park trails may look inviting for a swim, but it should be avoided, due to its strong currents, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief Maurice Witt said in the video.

Three other incidents involving the rescue service—all taking place on dry land—occurred in this area between May 26 and June 8, the rescue service reported on its blog:

  • A woman was injured on the Billy Goat Trail on May 26 at about 5:30 p.m. Rescue crews used a boat to transport the woman, who had a minor head injury, to a local hospital. 
  • A man with an ankle injury was rescued from the Billy Goat Trail A on June 8 at about 2 p.m.
  • A woman with an ankle injury was rescued from the Billy Goat Trail on June 1 at about 2:45 p.m. The woman was brought by land to the towpath, then transported to a local hospital.
Read more about the Potomac River's potentially dangerous currents and trails on Patch.


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