16-year-old boy missing in Potomac River at Great Falls Park

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD. - A search is underway after authorities say a teen went missing while swimming at Great Falls Park in Montgomery County on Thursday.

This marks the second time in three weeks a young person has gone missing in the Potomac River.

What we know:

Rescue teams responded to Great Falls Park around 6:15 a.m. for a person missing in the Potomac River.

The calls for help touched off a massive search by Montgomery and Fairfax County river rescue teams, who worked together alongside at least one canine unit. By noon Thursday, boats and personnel were pulled off the river.

Officials are now considering it a recovery mission, a decision made while factoring in the high air temperature, though efforts may resume before dark.

What they're saying:

Signs are posted all along the trails adjacent to the river warning visitors not to swim under any circumstances—advice that seasoned kayakers strongly reiterate.

"There are signs everywhere, but I think kids are…it just looks so tempting and calm," kayaker Donna Chladek said. "Underneath, there are swirls that pull you down and even though the water is not that high, there are still swirls if you don't have a life jacket. It's always when you don't have a life jacket. Better go to the pool where there's a lifeguard."

"It's very tempting to swim when it's hot," kayaker Terry Humeau added. "There is danger because there are rocks and rapids and the water is not quiet here. So, I mean people are taking a chance…I'm sorry for this young kid who is missing. It's really, really sad."

A camp of young kayakers was seen in the river today. A local fire official noted that because those children were wearing flotation devices, stayed in shallow water and remained near their boats, officials did not "lower the boom" to tell them to stop.

What we don't know:

Further details have yet to be released, including the missing 16-year-old's name.

The backstory:

Last month, the body of another swimmer, a 20-year-old Towson University student, was recovered after he went missing in the Potomac River near Great Falls.

His body was recovered the day after he disappeared. When embedded with one of the Montgomery County water rescue teams during that previous search, officials emphasized to FOX 5 that nobody should swim anywhere in the river at any time.

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