One dead after off-duty Ocean City Beach Patrol rescue

Off-duty Ocean City Beach Patrol members rescued an unresponsive Virginia man from the water, on Monday.

The Ocean City Beach Patrol says they responded to the Ocean City dispatchers report of swimmers in distress just before 7:30 PM, in the area of First Street. Officials say first responders went off duty at their regularly scheduled time of 5:30 PM. According to the report, witnesses reported seeing a person in the water who became submerged.

Authorities say that the Beach Patrol Surf Rescue Technicians and the Ocean City Fire Department arrived in the area of First Street and began search and recovery diving techniques. According to the report, 35-year-old Timothy Thompson of Prince George, VA, was found shortly after the arrival of first responders, and brought to the beach where paramedics began to perform CPR.

Thompson was transported to Atlantic General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Ocean City Emergency Services Director, Joseph Theobald, said,  "We urge our beach patrons to swim only when the lifeguards are on duty and to take the time to walk to and swim in front of the lifeguard. Our deepest sympathies are with the family who lost a loved one today."