Photo: Courtesy of the Massachusetts State Police.
NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Officials announced Friday evening that they have suspended the search for a six-year-old boy that went missing the night before after he and his family were swept away in the Merrimack River.
The Massachusetts State Police say a family consisting of two parents and four children had been swimming and fishing off the shore of Deer Island in Newburyport when they had become endangered and fallen in the water. The captain of a nearby fishing vessel noticed the family in distress and brought a seven-year-old girl onboard as well as her mother who was unresponsive. The MSP says the two family members presumably jumped into the water after the six-year-old boy.
Three others were recovered by the Amesbury Police Department and brought to the Seabrook Emergency Room.
CPR was performed on the mother after which she was taken to Anna Jacques Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Newburyport Fire Chief Christopher LeClaire and City Marshal Mark Murray said that first responders have shifted into recovery efforts for finding the missing boy, joining Amesbury Police, State Police, and the Coast Guard in the search.
Read More: UK's Kendamil To Fly More Than 212,000 Lbs. Of Free Baby Formula To Boston
The Boston and State Police Dive Teams responded to the scene, as officials said they will be using sonar equipment all day to locate the missing child, with the teams continuing into Saturday if needed.
Officials say Air Wing and Marine Units were involved in the search.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App