Report: Concord Residents Lost to the Merrimack Had Special Bond

While state officials haven’t released the names of the man and boy who lost their lives in the Merrimack River earlier this week, the New Hampshire Union Leader is reporting that the Concord residents had a special family bond.

Addidile-jaerti “Jibril” Mohamed, 34, and Javier Gonzalez, 10, both drowned on June 24, 2015, after Gonzalez got caught up in the river’s swift currents near the Hannah Duston Memorial State Historic Site on the Boscawen/Concord line and Mohamed jumped in to try and save him.

Family members said that Mohamed came to the United States about five years ago as a refugee from Africa and married Gonzalez’s mother in 2012.

Gonzalez was a student at Broken Ground Elementary School and enjoyed creating artwork and writing.

Read the full story at UnionLeader.com.

UPDATE: The New Hampshire Department of Safety Marine Patrol issued the following statement at 10:21 a.m.:

The Marine Patrol is releasing the identities of the victims who drowned on June 24, 2015, while swimming the Merrimack River in the town of Boscawen, NH.

Javier Gonzalez, age 10, was recovered by NH Fish & Game Divers at 8:19 AM on June 25 in 20-25 feet of water. Jibril Mohamed, age 34, was recovered at 4:43 PM on June 25 in 12 feet of water.

The Marine Patrol urges all swimmers to use designated swimming areas with a life guard on duty and reminds those swimming in rivers and streams that strong currents and underwater debris are a safety hazard. Extra precaution should be taken after periods of rain. Marine Patrol also advises that all boaters wear a personal flotation device when recreating on NH waters; any person under the age of 13 is required by law to be wearing a PFD while boating.

Caption: Javier Gonzalez and Addidile-jaerti Mohamed of Concord. Courtesy photo, New Hampshire Union Leader