OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) - A Columbia man and his 15-year-old daughter drowned in rough water off the 78th Street beach Thursday evening, according to Ocean City police.
Douglas Martin, 46, of Columbia, and his three teenage daughters were swimming around 6 p.m. A witness told police they were drawn quickly into deeper water, police spokesman Pfc. Barry Neeb said.
Martin's 17-year-old daughter was able to swim to shore. His 13-year-old daughter floated on her back and was rescued by an off-duty beach patrol officer, Neeb said. Neeb did not know the names of the two girls.
Martin was on his way back to shore when he realized his 15-year-old daughter, Amy, was still out there and turned around, Neeb said. A U.S. Coast Guard vessel pulled them from the water after both lost consciousness, he said. They were taken to a Coast Guard station and local paramedics took them to Atlantic General Hospital, where Neeb said Douglas Martin was pronounced dead on arrival. His daughter, Amy, died an hour later.
The National Weather Service issued a rip current advisory earlier in the day Thursday.
The Columbia family was vacationing in Ocean City and the girl's mother was at the condominium during the incident, Neeb said.