Concord Firefighters Rescue 3 Tubing On The Merrimack River

Concord NH

21 July, 2021

1:32 PM

Description

CONCORD, NH — Three people were rescued from the Merrimack River on Tuesday after getting caught in the increased current of the river due to heavy rain and deeper waters. Just after 6:45 p.m., firefighters were called to the area near the Hannah Duston memorial for a report of two swimmers needing assistance. Later, dispatch learned there were three swimmers on innertubes who could not reach the shoreline. Fire Lt. Kris Otterson, of the Manor Fire Station, launched a boat with other firefighters and they were able to find the swimmers clinging to a tree, trying not to be swept further downstream. The firefighters rescued the tubers, gave them personal flotation devices, and boated them to shore. "All of the people involved were fortunate to have such a positive outcome," he said. "This could have been a significantly worse situation because they were not wearing PFDs." Concord Fire Chief Sean Brown said rivers in the city can be "very deceiving" right now due to "recent heavy rains have changed the depth and speed of the rivers." He added, "Areas that were, until just recently, slow and shallow, are now much deeper and swift-moving." Brown said swimmers trying to cool off in the Merrimack or other rivers should always wear personal flotation devices, should maintain awareness of where they are on rivers and have a way to communicate with others if they need help. Got a news tip? Send it to [email protected]. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.