The body of 16-year-old Luis Vargas of Annapolis was recovered Sunday afternoon from the Severn River near Kyle Point, the Maryland Natural Resources police said.
The teen had been missing since Saturday evening. He, his father, an uncle and two co-workers of his father were returning after an afternoon of fishing when they decided to anchor about 30 feet offshore to go swimming, police said. All five jumped into the river, at a depth of about 15 feet, but only four surfaced.
Emergency personnel from Anne Arundel County, Maryland Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard searched the area as late as 11:30 p.m. Saturday before calling off the search for the night. Search efforts resumed at 4 a.m. Sunday. Fire department officials said the water temperature Saturday afternoon was between 70 and 75 degrees with 3- to 4-feet of visibility.
Sgt. Ken Turner, a spokesman for the Natural Resources police, said state and local officials were using side-scan sonar equipment to search a small area at the foot of Kyle Road in Crownsville where the youth was last seen.
“Based on our initial report, we do not suspect foul play, and it does not appear alcohol was involved,” Turner said before the boy?s body was found. “At this point it just looks like a tragic accident.”
The body was recovered at 1:18 p.m. Sunday and transported to the State Medical Examiners Office in Baltimore for an autopsy. As of July 8, 16 people have accidentally drowned in Maryland since the beginning of the year, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
