MISSING WATERMAN LOCATED AND RECOVERED ON THURSDAY BY DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES POLICE

Somerset County, MD: The Department of Natural Resources Police have recovered the body of a 58-year-old man who fell overboard on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The man fell overboard near Deal Island off a 41-foot commercial crabbing vessel.

DNR Police have identified the waterman as Ted Allen Briddelle, 58, of Princess Anne, Maryland. Mr. Briddelle was located and recovered by Maryland Natural Resources Police officers at 4:02 p.m. on Thursday. Officers located the body near the shoreline of a private residence over two miles from the man's last known location.

On July 23, 2024, at 8:20 a.m., NRP officers responded to a man overboard call in the area of Mud Rock near Deal Island. Officers arrived on the scene in a patrol vessel and, along with partner agencies, conducted surface searches for the waterman.

Subsequently, NRP's Aviation Unit and Underwater Operations Team (UOT) were deployed. At 6:51 p.m. on July 23, the Coast Guard suspended their active search. NRP search efforts continued until recovery was made Thursday evening.

Briddelle's body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where forensic examination will take place. Investigation into the incident remains ongoing.