OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) — Ocean City officials are reminding visitors about risky surf conditions after an 18-year-old Virginia man apparently drowned in the Atlantic Ocean.
A city spokeswoman identified the victim Wednesday as Jose Maudiel Hernandez of Manassas, Virginia.
Beach Patrol Lt. Wade Kovacs says witnesses saw Hernandez apparently caught in a rip current Tuesday evening shortly after 6 p.m. He says lifeguards had gone off duty at 5:30 p.m. and had advised people to stay out of the water.
Kovacs says emergency responders and rescue swimmers located the victim within13 minutes of the initial call. He was treated at the scene but died at a local hospital.
Kovacs says dangerous surf conditions linked to Hurricane Cristobal have prompted lifeguards to restrict swimmers to water no deeper than their knees since Tuesday afternoon.
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