BOSTON — The Coast Guard and several other agencies are searching for a 21-year old woman at the mouth of the Merrimack River by Plum Island, Mass., after she and seven others were swept out to sea by the current today.
Coast Guard Station Merrimack River received a call via VHF-FM radio on channel 16 from a Good Samaritan at 5:13 p.m., reporting eight people were swept off a sandbar. 911 also received the report.
Seven people were recovered by local police, Good Samaritans and the harbormaster. They were taken to the Captain Lady Dock near the town pier.
EMS met the seven at the pier and took them to a local hospital. Their conditions are unknown.
Currently searching for the missing woman are: a 47-foot boat crew from Coast Guard Station Merrimack River, a Falcon jet crew and Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass., the Salisbury Harbor Patrol, Newburyport dive team, Massachusetts State Police, Newburyport and Salisbury police departments, the State Police Air wing and several Good Samaritans.
The woman was wearing white shorts with a teal bathing suit.
The winds and seas are light and variable with a flood tide, the period between low tide and high tide, during which water flows toward the shore.
