Three Teens Rescued from Potomac River, Issued Citations

Three teenagers, two males and one female, were rescued from the swift waters of the Potomac River just after 9 p.m. Sunday. One was rescued along the Georgetown Waterfront, the other two managed to swim to Roosevelt Island where they were rescued by an emergency boat.

All three were transported to a local hospital as a precaution, though one of the young men was a priority two transport for hypothermia.

The two who made it to Roosevelt Island initially hid from rescuers because they were worried about getting in trouble, said Pete Piringer, the spokesperson for D.C. Fire and EMS (FEMS).

They were right. All three were issued citations by the United States Park Police for illegally entering the Potomac and violating the "no swimming, no diving regulations" according to Sgt. David Schlosser, the spokesperson for the agency.

A variety of law enforcement units responded to the emergency, including boats and K-9 units from DC MPD and FEMS, and park police units from Rock Creek Station, GW Parkway station and the aviation section. 

"The water is pretty treacherous...and at nighttime visibility is poor," said Piringer.

Schlosser said "fortunately it didn't end badly," since that section of the Potomac that is "treacherous."

Last year there were three drownings in the stretch of the Potomac from Great Falls to Georgetown.

People are should heed the warning about entering the Potomac River illegally, added Schlosser.