On July 20 at approx. 1448 hrs. Boat 5 was alerted to Calvert County at the Thomas Johnson Bridge for the boat taking on water with 4 confirmed subjects on board. Boat 5, under the command of Captain 5 (A. Stephens), responded with 4 personnel. Prior to fire/rescue units arriving on the scene, subjects had been evacuated to a passing civilian boat. The assignment was then held with Co. 3 (Solomon's) units only. Approx. 2 minutes after Boat 5 had returned, units were realerted to Calvert County in the area of the Benedict Bridge for a drowning subject. Boat 5 arrived on location with Calvert zodiac 4, with bystanders advising one female subject last seen going under. Boat 5 deployed two swimmers at the last seen point to begin search operations. Swimmers searched approx. 10mins with negative results. Chief 2A (D'Agostino) arrived on location, assuming the Patuxent River command. Command had all personnel pulled out of the water and regroup. Command then began land-based and water-based search operations, while the Calvert Dive team members began an underwater search of the last seen point. As the boat units were returning towards the area, the dive team found one female subject approx. 30 feet from the last seen point. The subject was then pulled from the water and CPR was performed. As the ambulance was enroute to the hospital and units were clearing the scene, the subject was declared a Priority 4. Boat 5 was on the scene for just over one hour. Later in the evening at approx 2030 hours, Boat 5 responded to a boat out of fuel near Benedict, which was towed back to the docks.
Units:
Boat 5, Amb. 5-8, EMS Car 5
Mutual Aid:
Calvert units- Squad 2, Amb. 4-9, Dive team 12
Zodiac 4, Boat 4, Chief 2A, Chief 12
Charles units- Dive team 13, Chief 13 & 13A