OCEAN CITY, MD — This morning, Monday, June 30, 2025, members of the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) joined the Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) during their Monday morning roll call for a special presentation from the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) and the Sussex County Lifesaving Association (SCLA).
The recognition stems from a multi-agency water rescue that occurred on the night of September 14, 2024, in North Ocean City. OCFD was dispatched for a water emergency involving a male victim struggling in the ocean in complete darkness, unable to return to shore. The victim was not visible from shore, which required swimmers to enter and begin searching for the lost swimmer.
Through a coordinated effort between Ocean City Fire Department rescue swimmers, tOcean City Police Departmentthe Ocean City Police Department’s drone unit, and the Ocean City 911 Communications Center, the young victim was located and safely rescued—several blocks south from the original call location.
“This is why our personnel train for these worst-case scenarios,” said Fire Chief Josh Bunting. “That night, the training and skill of our fire department rescue swimmers, the commitment of our Beach Patrol responding afterhours, and the technology and coordination provided by our police department’s drone team all came together to save a life. It’s a powerful example of what collaboration between public safety agencies can accomplish.”
During today’s ceremony, Captain Butch Arbin and Lieutenant Skip Lee introduced Rich Szvitich and Matt Farlow from the United States Lifesaving Association, who presented the National Lifesaving Award to the aforementioned Agencies and the Heroic Acts Award to the individual responders involved.
The Ocean City Fire Department reminds all residents and visitors: Do not enter the ocean when the Beach Patrol is off duty. Ocean conditions can change rapidly, and trained lifeguards are your best protection while swimming.
Not pictured: Asst. Chief Braniff who was on the rescue team.
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