Concord Man Drowns While Trying to Save Children

CONCORD, NH — A local man succumbed to injuries he sustained while attempting to save children swimming and playing in a pool below the Profile Falls on the Smith River in Bristol on Aug. 29, 2016, according to New Hampshire Marine Patrol.

At just before 3:30 p.m. today, dispatchers received a 911 call about a possible drowning at the falls and marine patrol were called to the area.

According to a report, four children – between the ages of 7 and 13 – were swimming in the pool when one of them began to struggle. A man in - later identified as Thai M. Chinh, 39 - entered the water to assist but while attempting to do so, went under and did not resurface. The other children also began to struggle in the water.

“Good Samaritans at the falls performed a water rescue entering the water removing all four of the children and ultimately the adult male victim, who was recovered in the town of Hill,” said Sgt. Joshua Dirth of the New Hampshire Marine Patrol. “The water depth where the children were recovered was between four and six feet deep.”

Emergency personnel from nine different agencies, according to Dirth, worked on one of the children and the man. They were able to revive the child. All four were later transported to Franklin Hospital for evaluation. Chinh, however, was unable to be resuscitated, “despite a valiant effort,” according to Dirth.

“Had it not been for the selfless acts of the public at Profile Falls this assuredly would have been a multi-fatality drowning,” Dirth added. “Despite water conditions being low across the state an emergency can unfold in seconds – please take the proper precautions before entering or being near the water.”

Drugs and/or alcohol do not appear to be factors in the drowning, he noted.

Marine Patrol urges everyone to wear a personal floatation device, preferably a USCG approved life jacket especially for children and for anyone that is not a strong swimmer when not in a designated swimming area and there is not a life guard present, Dirth added.

Assisting agencies included the Bristol, Hill, and New Hampton Police, New Hampshire Fish and Game, and fire and rescue teams from Bristol, Hill, Franklin, New Hampton and Alexandria.

Photo courtesy of New Hampshire Marine Patrol.