Max
07-02-2003, 07:58 PM
Shallow Water
Reporter: Josh Davidsburg
Photographer: Megan Neeley
This water is deceivingly shallow.
It's way too shallow to dive into, but tuesday evening a Salisbury University student tragically found out how shallow it is.
Robert Beckman jumped off this pier into this water. Witnesses say he took a running start and dove into the water- but the water here isn't very deep as you can see it's less than 3 feet and it's not low tide."
Police say the young man broke his legs and suffered a spinal cord injury.
Laura McVey lives right by the pier she says she saw his friends pull him from the water.
"I just saw 3 of his friends drag him up on this dock. He wasn't moving at all," said McVey.
The tragedy happened across the canal from Macky's Restaurant. Police suspect alcohol was involved.
"It's our understanding that the young man, who was 19, had been drinking, but we're investigating where he got the alcohol," said Chief Bernadette DiPino
Police Chief Bernadette DiPino says accidents like this are uncommon in Ocean City, but she still warns people to be cautious.
"A lot of people who go on vacation don't think they should cross at the crosswalk or should swim near a lifeguard. We just encourage people to think responsibly," said DiPino.
Think responsibly so tragedies like this don't happen again.
http://www.wmdt.com/topstory/topstory.asp?id=561
Reporter: Josh Davidsburg
Photographer: Megan Neeley
This water is deceivingly shallow.
It's way too shallow to dive into, but tuesday evening a Salisbury University student tragically found out how shallow it is.
Robert Beckman jumped off this pier into this water. Witnesses say he took a running start and dove into the water- but the water here isn't very deep as you can see it's less than 3 feet and it's not low tide."
Police say the young man broke his legs and suffered a spinal cord injury.
Laura McVey lives right by the pier she says she saw his friends pull him from the water.
"I just saw 3 of his friends drag him up on this dock. He wasn't moving at all," said McVey.
The tragedy happened across the canal from Macky's Restaurant. Police suspect alcohol was involved.
"It's our understanding that the young man, who was 19, had been drinking, but we're investigating where he got the alcohol," said Chief Bernadette DiPino
Police Chief Bernadette DiPino says accidents like this are uncommon in Ocean City, but she still warns people to be cautious.
"A lot of people who go on vacation don't think they should cross at the crosswalk or should swim near a lifeguard. We just encourage people to think responsibly," said DiPino.
Think responsibly so tragedies like this don't happen again.
http://www.wmdt.com/topstory/topstory.asp?id=561