Cove Point Light Station. Photo by Marty Madden

Update July 27 The body of a deceased person, believed to be the second missing swimmer from Cove Point Friday evening, was located in the Chesapeake Bay east of Breezy Point at approximately 1:18 p.m. this afternoon.  A charter boat captain out of the Rod N Reel located the body east of Breezy Point Marina.  The Captain of the vessel called 911 to alert authorities of the finding.  A Department of Natural Resources boat with a Natural Resources Police Officer and Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Deputy First Class Locke on board responded to the area and recovered the body from the bay. The body will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where identification will be made and an autopsy will be performed.

 

Update, 6:45 p.m., July 25

Lusby, MD — The body of Daniel Brown, one of the drowning victims, was just recovered within close proximity to where the swimmers were last seen. Calvert County Sheriff’s Office detectives are currently on the scene with Natural Resources Police continuing the investigation.

Update, 1:15 p.m., July 25

Lusby, MD — The Calvert Control Center received a 911 call on July 24 at approximately 7:22 p.m., in reference to two males that drowned off of Cove Point beach in Lusby Maryland.  Calvert County Sheriff’s Office patrol personnel responded to the scene and secured it until detectives for the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau arrived.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Daniel Jason Brown, 37, of Lusby), his brother Douglas Howell Brown 39, of Mechanicsville and a juvenile male were swimming off Cove Point in Lusby. It is believed the three entered deep water and became tired from swimming against the tide (The current in the area of Cove Point is significant).

Investigators located witnesses who observed the three swimmers in visible distress. Witnesses saw both Daniel Brown and Douglas Brown disappear beneath the surface of the water. The juvenile was able to make his way back to shore where he alerted family members and authorities. 

An extensive rescue / recovery effort was made by various agencies which met with negative results.  At this time search efforts have ceased and the bodies of the individuals will be recovered when they are located. It is presumed that both Daniel Brown and Douglas Brown succumbed to accidental drowning.  This case will remain open pending Daniel and Douglas Brown being located.

Here’s also an update from the Coast Guard as of 4 p.m. July 25:

The Coast Guard suspended its search Saturday for two missing swimmers near Cove Point Light Station.

Calvert County 911 Dispatch notified Coast Guard Sector Baltimore watchstanders Friday at approximately 7:30 p.m. reporting the two swimmers had not returned to shore.

The Coast Guard searched an 80-square-mile area for the missing men.
“After more than 16 hours of searching by the Coast Guard and our partner agencies, the Coast Guard has made the difficult decision to suspend the search,” said Cmdr. Michael Keane, chief of response at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. “This decision is never an easy one and our thoughts are with the families of the two missing men.”

Assisting in the search were crews from:
• Coast Guard Station St. Inigoes
• Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey
• Maryland Natural Resources Police
• Calvert County Police
• Calvert County Fire

Updated at 12:30 p.m.

Lusby, MD – The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office reported that the search for two missing swimmers in the area of Cove Point Light Station has been suspended.

Captain Ricky Thomas of the sheriff’s office told The BayNet that the operations were suspended around mid-morning. In addition to the sheriff’s office, the search for the two unidentified men was conducted by The U.S. Coast Guard, Maryland Natural Resources Police and volunteer fire, rescue and emergency medical services.

Authorities have not released the names of the missing men but Thomas said one of the swimmers is a resident of Cove Point Beach.

The two men disappeared in the Chesapeake Bay around 7:30 p.m. Friday night.

Contact The BayNet Staff at news@thebaynet.com

Press release posted Saturday morning, July 25 by the U.S. Coast Guard

Lusby, MD — The Coast Guard, along with state and local agencies, are searching for two missing swimmers Saturday near Cove Point Light Station.

Missing are two white males approximately 40 years old. One of the men is approximately 280 pounds with tattoos wearing black and blue swim trunks. The second male was described as having long gray hair also wearing black and blue shorts. The names of the missing men are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Calvert County 911 Dispatch notified Coast Guard Sector Baltimore watchstanders Friday at approximately 7:30 p.m. reporting the two swimmers had not returned back to shore.

A boat crew from Coast Guard Station St. Inigoes launched to search for the swimmers along with personnel from Calvert County Fire, Calvert County Police and Maryland Natural Resources Police.

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, is conducting a first-light search Saturday.