Kayaker In Distress Call Leads To False Alarm In Concord

CONCORD, NH — Concord fire and rescue teams were sent to the area of the Merrimack River on Interstate 93 north for a kayaker in distress.

Around 5:15 p.m., capital region fire dispatch received a call from a highway driver that a rower was having issues. Firefighters prepared to launch a boat into the river at NHTI, Concord’s community college, to head north.

The commander asked if the kayaker was on the east side or west side of the bridge. Dispatch said since the commuter was traveling north, it was probably on the east side.

The first arriving EMTs, in Ambulance 1, saw the kayaker but questioned whether they were in distress. They reported the kayaker was about 80 yards from the highway, just before the bend.

The commander asked if the kayaker looked fine.

“They do,” the EMT said. “They’re just paddling.”

The commander asked if any other callers reported seeing a boater in distress, and dispatch said it was a single call.

Firefighters launched the boat from NHTI and checked on the kayaker. The kayaker, it turned out, was fine.

Firefighters returned to service at 6 p.m.

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