A Mother drowns in valiant attempt to save her son.
After a family fishing trip to a Massachusetts river turned tragic, an unnamed mother drowned and her six-year-old son is missing, with the search now called off.
A mother has died and her six-year-old son has gone missing after she waded into a river to try to save him after he fell in.
A fishing trip for a family of six to the Merrimack River in Massachusetts ended in tragedy on Thursday, with the unnamed mother confirmed dead and a search for her six-year-old son still ongoing.
A large operation involving multiple agencies, including the US Coast Guard, searched for the child, which turned into a recovery operation before being suspended.
The unidentified family was fishing and swimming at Deer Island, a popular recreation area between Amesbury and Newburyport.
The father, 31, had returned to the car to retrieve something when the missing boy fell into the water and was swept away by the current, according to officials.
The boy’s mother, 29, and a seven-year-old sister attempted to assist but were also taken away by the swirl, according to Massachusetts State Police.
After getting out of the car, the father went into the water, and while he struggled and was unable to reach them, he did manage to get back to land.
“It is always a difficult decision to suspend a search and rescue case, and it is especially difficult when children are involved,” said Capt. Kailie Benson, commander of Coast Guard Sector Boston.
“Given the extensive search efforts of the Coast Guard and numerous state and local agencies, as well as on-scene conditions, I have decided to halt the search for the missing six-year-old boy.”
During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and mother’s family and friends.”
“The Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing six-year-old boy in Merrimack River on Friday at 5 p.m., pending new information,” the US Coast Guard said.
At approximately 7:15 p.m. Thursday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Boston received a call reporting six people, two adults and four children.
