MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — City fire officials said a man drowned Sunday afternoon while swimming — a scene witnessed by his pregnant wife, who had to be taken to the hospital.
Manchester District Fire Chief Richard McGahey said fire crews were called to at 4:35 p.m. for a report of a man missing while swimming in the Piscataquog River.
“The call was for a 26-year-old male in the water swimming when he disappeared from sight,” Chief McGahey said. “He was there enjoying the water with his wife, who is eight months pregnant. She was showing signs of anxiety, and was transported to the Elliot Hospital as a precaution, but she wasn’t having any contractions.”
McGahey said fire personnel responded with boats, along with members of the state Marine Patrol.
“The crews dragged the river for about an hour before we were able to locate him,” said McGahey. “He was in the general area of where he went missing, but there’s about a 20-foot drop-off right there and it took a while for us to locate him.”
Rescue crews pulled the man from the water and began CPR immediately. He was taken to an ambulance, where paramedics continued resuscitation efforts en route to Catholic Medical Center.
“He was pronounced dead at the hospital,” McGahey said.
Manchester police have not released the name of the man, pending notification of family members Sunday night.
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