On Sunday afternoon, Aug. 31, Rian Avarham Khalder, 25 of Silver Spring, was hiking with his 14-year-old brother along the Potomac River. As Khalder was climbing on rocks on a part of the river just south of Old Angler’s Inn, the rocks broke lose.

“As he was climbing upward, a portion of the rocks gave way, the subject fell, with rocks, including one large boulder, coming down on him,” according to the police report.

The call for rescue crews came in at 4:38 p.m., and by 5:25, a Potomac River Operations command post was set up at the Old Anglers access to the river. The rescue and recovery effort would include National Park Service helicopter, swift water rescue boats from Montgomery County, dozens of Montgomery fire and rescue personnel, Fairfax County rescue personnel and heavy rescue equipment, including airbags, to lift the boulder off of the victim.

As the rescue teams were assessing around 6 p.m., the sky turned black and an intense lightning storm with many nearby lightning strikes forced the suspension of the rescue effort for more than half an hour.

By 6:52 pm the operation shifted from rescue to recovery. At 6:55 p.m., Pete Piringer, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said, via twitter: “EMS & MCPD advise the 25YO male did not survive - MCPD will conduct death investigation & rescue will assist w/ recovery ops.”

It took until nearly 11 p.m. to recover the victim’s body and move rescue crews off the island.

The next afternoon, on Labor Day, rescue workers were back along the Billy Goat trial for another call for an injured hiker. A woman hiker with an injured leg was located and lifted by helicopter hoist. Her injuries were not life threatening.

If anyone has information regarding the fatal event, they are asked to call the police at 240-773-5070