It was a dramatic night for John Riggs from Rock Hall who swam some 5 and a half hours to get help after waves from a storm overturned his boat near Deal Island with his wife, two young children and his 80 year old father on board.
He had been swimming since sundown when he finally arrived at a home in Chance at 1 am.
Don Ford, the Deal Island Chance Volunteer Fire Company Chief, who later went to rescue his family said, “The only thing that he did say is that he swam so long that he didn't think he would make it any farther. And just about that time is when his feet touched the sand on the bottom. And he was able to walk ashore.”
But, the boat had drifted by the time he got ashore.
His family and boat were eventually found at the mouth of the Wicomico River.
