Body of Woman, 73, Recovered in Potters Cove

A 73-year-old woman who was reported missing from a 42-foot boat moored in the mouth of Potters Cove in Bristol was found dead Sunday morning after a large-scale search by the United States Coast Guard and a number of area fire departments.

Portsmouth Fire Department Dep. Chief MIchael P. O’Brien said the department was notified shortly after 8 a.m. that the woman was missing.

Crews from Portsmouth, the Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department and fire departments from Bristol, Cranston, Warren, Warwick and the state Department of Environmental Management joined the search.

The incident was managed from the Portsmouth Emergency Operations Center; under operations commander, Captain Steven Lynch.

The victim was located along the shore of Potter Cove by a civilian vessel assisting in the search. The civilian vessel hailed rescuers who recovered the body of the missing woman.

The Department of Environmental Management is leading the investigation.