Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service crews have entered a third day of searching for Nazir Bell, a 20-year-old Germantown resident and Towson University student who disappeared while swimming in the Potomac River near Great Falls. Bell became separated from a group while in the water Sunday evening and did not resurface.
The search began after emergency crews were dispatched around 6:15 p.m. Sunday to the area near Billy Goat Trail A and Sandy Landing for a reported swimmer in distress. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, and other agencies searched the river by land, air and water. The initial operation involved approximately 45 rescue personnel, eight boats and underwater sonar equipment operated by MCFRS Swift Water Rescue teams.
Despite extensive search efforts over the past two days, Bell has not been located. Crews have continued to focus on the swimmer’s last known location and surrounding areas of the Potomac River as search operations remain ongoing.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 – @mcfrs search crews will return to Potomac River to resume search for missing swimmer, initially reported missing Sunday evening IAO Great Falls, MD/VA @COcanalNPS @Gr8FallsPark
Family Flyer attached #FINDNAZIR https://t.co/88TK50NvoS pic.twitter.com/8t3BSvn3Iy— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) June 16, 2026
