Toddler, Pregnant Woman Saved In North Shore Sea Rescue

IPSWICH, MA — A North Shore pregnant mother and 14-month-old were rescued after an aluminum boat capsized in a mooring field during rough seas in Ipswich this weekend.

Patrol Officer Matthew Bodwell, who is being hailed as a hero, was on patrol near Clark Beach Saturday afternoon when he saw a vessel capsize and that there were people in distress in the water. He directed a patrol boat toward the area and was able to pull a pregnant woman from the water, then a second woman, then a 14-month-old girl, then two men.

It was then determined that the 16-foot aluminum boat they were riding in had capsized and that all on board had been rescued.

"This is a remarkable situation that could have turned into an unspeakable tragedy had it not been for the immediate actions of Officer Matthew Bodwell," Ipswich Police Chief Paul Nikas said. "Officer Bodwell is to be commended for his heroic work on the water on Saturday."

Nikas did remind boaters that lifejackets are required for all boaters under age 12, and recommended for all. None of the people rescued on Saturday were wearing lifejackets at the time they fell into the water.

Paramedics evaluated all five and then Bodwell drove them back to their residence.

Bodwell then returned to the mooring field and towed the capsized boat to Pavilion Beach where the owner was able to retrieve it.

"Fortunately, in this incident, we were able to respond quickly enough with a highly-trained marine patrol officer, and we have a positive outcome, when all too often the circumstances on the water, especially in rough seas, do not turn out favorably," said Ipswich Police Lt. Jonathan Hubbard, the town's Emergency Management Director.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)