Body located after search and recovery off the coast of Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, Md. – UPDATE: Ocean City Fire Department has confirmed a body was recovered near 4th Street in Ocean City.

The swimmer has been identified as 21- year -old Praise Ezechibueze of New Jersey.

Sunday morning around 5:34 a.m., the Ocean City Police Department responded to the area of 4th Street and the beach for search and recovery. A citizen walking on the beach reported to officers that they observed a body on the beach. Members of the Major Crimes Unit and Forensic Services responded to the scene. Detectives were able to identify the individual as Ezechibueze. Ezechibueze has been transported to the Holloway Funeral Home.

As of 3:30 p.m. on May 6th, the Ocean City Fire Department water rescue team confirmed an ongoing water rescue.

Ocean City Beach Patrol is assisting the fire department as they look for one missing person, a 21-year-old male. The fire department is responding to a call for distress, where multiple people are off the coast of Ocean City between 24th and 26th street.

The United States Coast Guard and Maryland Department of Resources Police have joined the search efforts.

O.C. Fire Department says that after two hours of searching, the scene was turned over to the Coast Guard, who will continue the search pattern with NPR for several hours. OCFD rescue personnel remained on the scene in case any further assistance was needed.