An 18-year-old man recently drowned at Assateague Island National Seashore after being pulled unconscious from the Atlantic Ocean.
The teen had been swimming near the southern end of Chincoteague Beach on July 24, roughly 150 yards from the lifeguarded zone, when he and another swimmer began struggling in the surf, according to the National Parks Service (NPS).
A relative ran to alert lifeguards, who rescued one swimmer and performed CPR on the teen before transporting him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The tragedy comes just weeks after Maryland Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks warned the Trump administration of public safety risks tied to reduced lifeguard staffing at the park.
Federal budget cuts led to the layoff of nearly 1,000 National Park Service employees and a months-long hiring freeze, leaving Maryland’s section of the 37-mile island without lifeguard coverage.
“Drownings happen in minutes,” the senators wrote in a letter urging complete restoration of staff.
Assateague, known for dangerous rip currents, was the site of 24 reported rescues in 2024. NPS continues to advise beachgoers to follow safety guidelines and swim in lifeguarded areas.
