Man Identified After Being Pulled From MA River: Reports

NEWBURY, MA — A man whose body was recovered overnight after he became stuck in a pulsing river current in Newbury has been identified, according to multiple reports.

David Harwood, 54, of Byfield is the man pulled from Parker River near Forest and River streets several hours after police began a rescue mission, officials said, according to NBC10 and Boston25.

A bystander attempted to enter the "rapid-moving, high-water current" to grab the man, but could not reach him, according to Newbury police.

Sue Nagle, whose son lives along the river and was the bystander who attempted the rescue, told WCVB that her son 'was maybe three feet from [the victim]."

"He couldn't grab him," Nagle continued. "I think he was holding on to the tree that went across the river," the woman said.

Nagle said her son ran home to grab a ladder, but that by the time he returned, it was too late.

That bystander was treated and released, police said.

At the time of the nighttime post by police, the rescue was still ongoing. But reports say that when the man was finally pulled from the river, he was already dead.