NH Marine Patrol Identifies Merrimack Drowning Victims

WEARE, NH — New Hampshire Marine Patrol has released the names of the two drowning victims from Merrimack as well as what they believe happened in the case on Everett Lake in Weare on Saturday, according to its investigation. At just after 5 p.m. on July 30, 2016, Marine Patrol and many other first responders were sent to the lake for a report of two people in the lake, in distress. The male victim – Austin Dean, 59 – was found by Nashua Fire and Rescue team drivers in about 12 feet of water.

According to investigators, Mary Horgan, 59, reportedly fell off her paddle board and was face down in the water when her husband, Dean, jumped in, attempting to assist her. While attempting to save her, he drowned, according to Sgt. Dave Ouelette of the Marine Patrol.

“Autopsy results determined Dean’s cause of death to be drowning while Horgan’s cause of death is pending studies,” Ouelette noted in a statement. “Foul play has been ruled out at this time.”

Weare Police Department, NH Fish and Game Department, the NH Medical Examiner’s Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Weare Fire, Goffstown Fire, and Concord Fire, all also assisted at the scene.

In a statement, Ouelette urged “all who use the New Hampshire waters for boating related activities to have a personal flotation device readily accessible."

Horgan, according to her online profile, was an acupuncturist who had a holistic practice in town.