Body of 21-year-old found day after he vanished swimming in ocean, Maryland cops say

Moira Ritter
·2 min read
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A 21-year-old’s body was found a day after he disappeared while swimming in the ocean, Maryland officials say.

Praise Ezechibueze, from New Jersey, vanished around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, while swimming in Ocean City, according to a Facebook post from the Ocean City Police Department. Beach patrol searched for the man for two hours before turning the search over to the United States Coast Guard.

The next morning, just after 5:30 a.m., a beachgoer was walking on the beach and spotted a body, police said in a May 7 news release. When investigators arrived, they identified the body as belonging to Ezechibueze.

Police said there were rip current conditions at the time that Ezechubueze went missing.

Ocean City does not have lifeguards on duty until Memorial Day weekend, so officials encouraged beachgoers to stay extra vigilant before then.

“We 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,” police said in the release.

What is a rip current?

Rip currents are “powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water” that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

About 100 people are killed by rip currents each year in the U.S., NOAA reported. Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually.

Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including:

  • Check the local water conditions before getting in.

  • Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions.

  • Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present.

  • Don’t assume great weather means good swimming conditions.

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