The Ocean City Police Department has located the body of the swimmer reported missing Saturday, May 6, 2023. The swimmer has been identified as Praise Ezechibueze, 21, of New Jersey.
Sunday morning at about 5:34 a.m., the Ocean City Police Department responded to the area of 4th Street and the beach. 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, and his body has been transported to the Holloway Funeral Home.
On May 6 at about 3:29 p.m., the Ocean City Fire Department and Ocean City Police Department responded to a missing swimmer in the area of 25th Street and the beach. Rescue swimmers from the OCFD immediately deployed into the ocean and began searching the area for the submerged swimmer. The Ocean City Beach Patrol also joined the search effort, along with members of the United States Coast Guard and Maryland Natural Resources Police.
The Ocean City Beach Patrol will return to guarding the 10 miles of beach the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Until then, lifeguards would like to remind everyone of Beach Patrol’s motto: “Keep Your Feet in the Sand until the Lifeguard’s in the Stand”. Ocean City is prone to strong rip currents, which can occur at any surf beach with breaking waves.
If you would like to learn more about rip current safety or about Beach Patrol in general, visit its website.
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