In a heartrending incident on Wednesday at Salisbury Beach, 44-year-old Gary Simard of Methuen lost his life while trying to save his son from the clutches of a perilous rip current. Simard and his family had been enjoying a pleasant day at the beach when one of his children was caught in the ferocious ocean currents and began to struggle, unable to swim back to shore. according to Boston 25 News.
As the child called out for help, Simard rushed into the ocean without any hesitation, determined to rescue him. Two good Samaritans also joined Simard in the water. While they managed to bring the four children to safety, including Simard's son, they were unable to locate Simard himself. He was later found by the police and firefighters, as reported by CBS News. Sadly, despite the responding EMTs' attempts to resuscitate him with CPR, Gary Simard eventually succumbed to the ordeal at the hospital, as per WCVB.
The beach where the tragic event unfolded is known for its potential danger due to rip currents, particularly in that specific area of Salisbury Beach, where no lifeguards were on duty at the time.
A bystander, Robin DiNatale, described the chilling scene: "I heard someone yelling and it was a child saying ‘help help’ so the father went running into the water and they both got in trouble." She was also quick to call 911 and alert the authorities, as mentioned in Boston 25 News.
One of the good Samaritans, who helped rescue the child, experienced difficulty in breathing and exhaustion after the incident, requiring hospitalization. Thankfully, he has since been released, as per WCVB.
First responders stressed the importance of taking tide warnings seriously, as dangerous currents can emerge rapidly. Salisbury police Sgt. James Leavitt urged beachgoers to "stay where it's safe."
