Coast Guard suspends search for missing 6-year-old in Merrimack River

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/10/2022 05:15 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast
Contact: 1st District Public Affairs
D1PublicAffairs@uscg.mil
1st District online newsroom

Coast Guard suspends search for missing 6-year-old in Merrimack River

 

Boston — The Coast Guard suspended its search Friday at 5 p.m., for a missing six-year-old boy in Merrimack River pending new information.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Boston received a call at approximately 7:15 p.m. Thursday, reporting six people, two adults and four children, had fallen in the water while fishing on Deer Island.

Two people, an adult female and one child, were recovered by a Good Samaritan and transferred to emergency medical services for treatment and taken to Anna Jacques Hospital. 

Three people, an adult male and two children, were recovered by Amesbury Police Department and transferred to emergency medical services for treatment and taken to Seabrook Emergency Room.

The adult female was recovered unresponsive and later declared deceased.

The six-year-old boy is still missing at this time.

“It is always a difficult decision to suspend a search and rescue case, and even more painful when children are involved,” said Capt. Kailie Benson, Coast Guard Sector Boston commander. “Considering the extensive search efforts by the Coast Guard and the numerous state and local agencies, along with on scene conditions, I have made the decision to suspend the search for the missing 6-year-old boy. Our prayers are with the boy and mother’s family and friends during this time.”

Search crews include:

  •  29-foot Response Boat-Small, Station Merrimack River
  • MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, Air Station Cape Cod 
  •  Coast Guard Cutter Finback
  • Amesbury Police Department
  • Amesbury Fire Department
  • Newburyport Police Department
  • Newburyport Fire Department
  • Salisbury Police Department
  •  Salisbury Fire Department
  • Haverhill Fire Department
  • East Kingston Fire Department
  •  Merrimack Fire Department
  • Massachusetts State Police
  • Massachusetts Environmental Police

Crews searched 228 square miles for 69 hours.

If anyone has new information regarding this case, please call Sector Boston at 617-223-3201.

                                                                                  -USCG-