Missing Swimmer in the Merrimack River Found

CONCORD, NH – Concord Police and Fire and Rescue teams were called to the Sewalls Falls Recreation Area, off Second Street for a report of a person falling into the water.

The initial call for service came in at around 5:45 p.m. on June 17, 2016.

A caller reported that a man swimming in the river was holding onto a rock and complaining that he was drowning. The caller stated that the man then slipped from the rock into the river. Two other men, according to scanner chatter, were reportedly helping to get him out of the water when they also got caught up in the river.

Police officers scoured the banks of the river looking for the men while firefighters prepared to launch the department's rescue boat. The officer then found three individuals washed up on the beach past the abandoned dam, according to dispatch, at around 6:05 p.m. All three were fine and refused treatment by EMTs.

A woman with a child at the scene reportedly had an active warrant and was arrested, according to scanner chatter.

Nearly a year ago, on June 24, 2015, Javier Gonzalez, 10, was swept up in the currents of the river in Boscawen and Jibril Mohamed, 34, attempted to rescue him but both passed away from drowning just south in Penacook. Nearly three years ago, in July 2013, Daron Graham, 20, of Penacook, also drowned in the Merrimack River. Timothy Gee drowned in the Merrimack in July 2012, at Kiwanis River Park.

Due to all of the drownings along the Merrimack, state officials have been warning residents to be careful, while beating the heat in places where there is not a lifeguard.