Story Category: Regional News »

UPDATE Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) reports that the body of missing boater, Timothy Dale Bourne, age 50 from Port Republic, Md was recovered at 1:30 p.m. on November 7, approximately 120 yards south from where the vessel sank in the Patuxent River.   Recovery was made by members of the Solomons Volunteer Fire Department, Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department and the Calvert County Dive team.

Bourne has been the object of an intense search by NRP, Coast Guard and area fire companies since his disappearance after a boating accident on November 6, at 6:30 p.m.  Bourne was a passenger in the vessel that sank when a wave came over the stern of the vessel.

Bourne’s body was sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy. 

Search for Missing Boater in Patuxent River
Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and other first responders search for missing boater, Timothy Dale Bourne, age 50 from Port Republic, Md in the Patuxent River near Broomes Island.  Bourne was a passenger in a fishing vessel that sank after it experienced engine trouble. 

At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday November 6, Thomas Eric Johnson, 46 from Hollywood, Md was returning from fishing in his 20 foot Wellcraft when the vessel experienced engine trouble.  Johnson anchored the vessel and called a nearby marina for assistance.  While Johnson and the other two occupants, Julius Lamond Camp, age 37 from Leonardtown and Bourne waited for assistance, the vessel took a large wave over the stern causing it to sink. 

All three occupants put on life jackets and jumped into the water.  A jet skier, who heard the victim’s call for help responded to their location.  The skier was able to relay Johnson and Camp to shore.  The jet skier could not locate Bourne, who was separated from the others due to the strong current in the river.  Johnson and Camp were transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital for hypothermia. 

Officers from the Natural Resources Police, Coast Guard, and members from St. Leonard VFD, Prince Frederick VFD, Solomon’s VFD, and Benedict VFD search the area by vessel.  The Maryland State Police aviation searched the area by air.  The search continued until midnight.  The search will resume at first light with the addition of NRP’s Underwater Operation Unit using side scan sonar. 

NRP Special Operation Division is continuing the investigation into the cause of the accident. 

NRP responded to an earlier water rescue which occurred at 11:15 am in Chesapeake Bay, one mile south of Breezy Point.  During this rescue, the vessel was taking on water and had five people on board. Units from NRP and Prince Frederick VFD were able to safety transport all five occupants off the vessel, which was eventually towed back to shore.