2 rescued, 1 missing in creek

MIDDLE RIVER, Md. (WMAR) - Baltimore County fire personnel, Natural Resources Police and the US Coast Guard are working to recover a 52-year-old man from the Frog Mortar Creek.

Officials say three people ended up in the water near Martin State Airport just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The Coast Guard was notified by a good Samaritan who reported seeing the people in the water.

Two of the individuals were swimming when they became separated from their boat. The missing boater, identified as Sherman Walden, got into the water in an attempt to assist the other two swimmers and also got separated from the boat.

On Wednesday, search and rescue crews were still looking for Walden, known by friends and family members as an expert outdoorsman. Family members say Walden and his brothers grew up on the water.

"Come hell or high water, he'd be the first one at your back to help ya," said his niece Lori Garcia. "If any of us would have been out there, he would have done the same thing. He would have jumped right on in to save one of us. At least he saved the two girls, it's just a tragedy that he couldn't save himself."

Garcia said waiting on news from the authorities has been painful.

"It's devastating," she said. "You see it all over the news, and you never think you're going to be the one to get that phone call."

There is no word on the condition of the two pulled out of the water, and as of Wednesday afternoon there was no news in the search for Walden.