A boating accident off Salisbury Beach has resulted in one rescue and one man still missing, after their vessel capsized near the mouth of the Merrimack River yesterday afternoon. According to NBC Boston, the Massachusetts State Police were notified of the incident just after 4 p.m., leading to a coordinated effort involving the U.S. Coast Guard and local harbormasters.
The 47-foot boat, which departed from Salisbury Marina, began sinking as a result of taking on water with two individuals onboard, this capsizing has claimed more than just property as the owner of the vessel was rescued and subsequently airlifted, suffering non-life threatening injuries, to a Boston hospital; meanwhile, a second man in his 50s remains unaccounted for, with search efforts continuing, police have revealed. Rescue operations were hampered Saturday night due to unfavorable weather conditions.
The response drew on resources from multiple agencies, with the Coast Guard achieving the successful rescue of the boat's owner, as per CBS News. The rescue efforts also included the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing supporting the search operations for the missing man.
The incident occurs amidst meteorological turmoil, with Hurricane Erin churning the waters hundreds of miles off the Massachusetts coast, causing beaches to issue warnings of dangerous rip currents and large waves or to shut down entirely, which also saw numerous rescue operations unfold at a beach in Rye, New Hampshire as swimmers grappled with strong rip currents. The search for the missing man is ongoing, with local and state authorities committed to resuming operations as weather permits.
