Massive Search Underway After Person Seen Clinging to Boat in Frigid Merrimack River
NEWBURYPORT, Mass. — A frantic search is underway on the Merrimack River in Newburyport, Massachusetts, for a missing person last seen desperately clinging to the side of a drifting boat.
Authorities launched a massive water and air operation early Wednesday morning after receiving alarming reports of a person in the freezing water. The initial call came in to first responders around 8 a.m., prompting a rapid multi-agency response to the coastal city near the New Hampshire border.
According to official statements from Newburyport Police and Fire, witnesses reported seeing an individual in the water off the coast, holding onto a small skiff boat that was floating adrift. The situation appears to have escalated quickly, as a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson stated that a person had initially entered the water in an attempt to recover the vessel after it became loose from the dock.
The severity of the emergency was underscored by chilling details from the scene. Witnesses reported hearing the person yelling for help just before the sounds suddenly stopped. First responders soon located the small skiff drifting in the river, but there was no immediate sign of the occupant. The search, which is an active and ongoing investigation, involves the U.S. Coast Guard with both a helicopter overhead and a vessel in the water, alongside marine and ground units from the Massachusetts State Police and local Newburyport police and fire departments.
Conditions on the Merrimack River presented an immediate and severe danger. The water temperature in the Newburyport area this time of year hovers around the upper 40s, with reports citing temperatures near 46 to 49 degrees Fahrenheit. Exposure to such frigid water dramatically increases the risk of hypothermia, which can incapacitate a person within minutes. The air temperature was also bitterly cold, hovering in the low-to-mid 30s with significant wind.
Furthermore, the incident occurred during a period of strong tidal flow. On Wednesday morning, the river was experiencing a powerful rising tide, known as a flood current, which was driving water toward the inner parts of the river. This strong current presents a major challenge for search crews, making both the rescue and recovery efforts exceptionally difficult as the missing person may have been swept away from the initial sighting location.
City Marshal Matthew Simons and Fire Chief Stephen Bradbury III released a joint statement confirming the search for the missing occupant of the small boat. Authorities have asked anyone with information that may aid in the search to contact the U.S. Coast Guard immediately at 857-416-3015.
The community is holding its breath as the tireless search continues through the difficult winter conditions, with local agencies and the Coast Guard racing against time and the unforgiving elements of the Merrimack River.