The day of notification and search were originally reported as Saturday, but should have been Sunday. The below release has been updated to reflect the changes.
BALTIMORE — The Coast Guard suspended its search Sunday for a missing 35-year-old male swimmer off Ocean City.
Missing is James Benjamin Lenhart, described as a 5’5” caucasian.
Coast Guard Sector Baltimore watchstanders received a call at approximately 1 a.m. Sunday reporting the missing swimmer.
Ocean City Police officers were on scene responding while a boat crew from Coast Guard Station Ocean City and a crew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, launched to search for the swimmer. A Maryland State Police helicopter crew also assisted with the search.
The Coast Guard searched a 55 square nautical mile area for the missing swimmer.
"After more than 10 hours of cumulative search efforts by the Coast Guard and our partner agencies, the Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend the search," said Cmdr. Michael Keane, chief of response at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. "This decision is never an easy one, and our thoughts are with the families of the missing man."
To report any information regarding this case please contact DFC Nick Simpson at 410-723-6610.