Missing Kayaker Identified As Merrimack Man, PSU Student

MERRIMACK, NH — The New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol has identified the man who drowned after a kayaking accident on the Merrimack River on Thursday. Alec Bronchuk, 20, of Merrimack, was found on June 14, 2019, not far from where the accident occurred. The discovery of his body, at around 2:45 p.m. on Friday, ended a 32-hour search after Concord Fire and Rescue teams and others were called to the river at around 7 a.m. on Thursday for a report of two kayakers losing control of their boats.

The kayaks, according to Lt. Crystal McLain of the Marine Patrol, began taking on water near the Sewalls Falls boat ramp. Bronchuk and his older brother, Sean Donahue, got out of the kayaks and attempted to swim to shore. Donahue made it to a rock about 20-feet from shore while Bronchuk was last seen attempting to get to shore.

"After Mr. Donahue got himself to safety, he walked the shoreline in an attempt to find his brother," McLain stated. "After unsuccessfully searching the nearby area, he found an unrelated person who called 9-1-1 for help."

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Bronchuk's body was recovered about 30 yards from shore about a third of a mile from where his brother reported last seeing him.

The cause of the drowning is still under investigation but McLain noted that there were no personal flotation devices aboard the kayaks.

New Hampshire State Police-Marine Patrol, New Hampshire Fish and Game, Concord Police Department, and Concord Fire and Rescue were involved in the search.

"New Hampshire State Police-Marine Patrol and New Hampshire Fish and Game reminds all boaters that water temperatures are still cold and State law requires each boater to have a wearable life jacket with them whenever they are underway," she said. "Children ages 12-years-old and younger must also wear a life jacket while underway on the public waters."

Anyone who has further information related to this accident or who witnessed it is encouraged to contact Sgt. Seth Alie at 603-227-2117 or by email at Seth.Alie@dos.nh.gov.

According to information online, Bronchuk was an honor roll student at Merrimack High School and also played for the Tomahawks football and lacrosse teams. He was enrolled at Plymouth State University as a criminal justice major and played defensive back for the football team.