Swimmer Drowns In Merrimack River; Body Recovered Near Hannah Duston Memorial In Boscawen: Video

CONCORD, NH — A man drowned in the Merrimack River on Wednesday afternoon.

Boscawen, Canterbury, and Concord firefighters and boat teams, as well as the Penacook rescue team, were requested to 2 Hannah Dustin Drive around 1 p.m. for a water rescue call. Police and the Merrimack County sheriff and his deputies also arrived to assist in the search. According to the 911 caller, a swimmer went underwater and never came back up.

Later, firefighters learned the swimmer was last seen on the other side of the river, near the Hannah Duston Memorial.

Concord firefighters launched their boat from the Merrimack Street Boat Ramp and worked their way up the river. A battalion commander also requested Marine Patrol and Fish and Game.

Canterbury firefighters and the Penacook rescue team staged at the beach of the drive.

An EMT, after speaking with swimmers, estimated the man was last seen around 12:45 p.m. The swimmer was reportedly a man in his early 20s.

Boscawen police began searching from the bridge and along the Boscawen shoreline. The swimmer was described as struggling near the sandbar on the Boscawen side of the river.

A commander requested firefighters on the boat to don masks and see if they could see anything in the water.

Marine Patrol confirmed to Capital Fire Alarm they were heading to the scene just before 1:30 p.m. A swimmer was also in the water, searching, and gave firefighters a rough idea of where to look.

One firefighter suggested traveling a bit downstream to see whether the man had gotten out of the water elsewhere in the river.

“The current is moving pretty well,” they said, “he went under over here… It’s pretty deep.”

Firefighters took the boats downstream and then returned to the main area near the sandbar.

Around 1:45 p.m., a body was found, and firefighters began recovery efforts.

Around 2 p.m., the Penacook Rescue team took the body to Concord Hospital.

Concord NH Patch will update this post when more information becomes available.

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