NEWBURYPORT — One person is missing after a boat capsized and sank in the Merrimack River on Saturday afternoon.
At approximately 4 p.m., Newburyport police officers, firefighters and Harbormaster Paul Hogg responded to the Merrimack River to assist the U.S. Coast Guard, for reports of a capsized boat. Newburyport Fire Marine Unit 2 also responded.
A preliminary investigation determined that a 47-foot boat had left the Salisbury Marina, taken on water and began to sink. Two individuals were on board at the time of the incident.
One person was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and was transported to an area hospital by medical helicopter. The other passenger is still missing at this time.
Mutual aid is being provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, Newbury police and fire, Salisbury police and fire, Salisbury’s harbormaster, and an Atlantic Ambulance crew.
The search continued Sunday morning with a harbormaster boat searching the shoreline and a four-wheeler on the beach.
“We’re hoping to try to pull the boat up this afternoon when the seas calm down,” Hogg said, Sunday morning.
The remnants of Hurricane Erin resulted in high surf and dangerous rip currents.