NEWBURYPORT — Two women remain in critical condition after being rescued from the water off Plum Island Point on Sunday evening, according to a joint update from City Marshal Matthew Simons and Fire Chief Stephen Bradbury III.
At approximately 7 p.m. on June 8, the Newburyport Police and Fire Departments responded to a report of swimmers in distress near Plum Island Point. Upon arrival, emergency crews observed two individuals struggling in the water.
Two nearby fishing boats played a critical role in the rescue effort. According to officials, one fisherman brought an unresponsive swimmer to shore, where they received immediate medical care from Atlantic Ambulance EMS and Newburyport Fire personnel. The second swimmer, also unresponsive, was pulled into another boat and met on the water by the U.S. Coast Guard, who rendered aid and transported the swimmer to shore.
Both victims were initially taken to Anna Jacques Hospital. One, a 25-year-old woman from Lynn, was later flown by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital. The other, a 24-year-old woman from East Boston, was transferred to a hospital in Burlington.
Agencies involved in the rescue included Newburyport Police and Fire, Newbury Police and Fire, the U.S. Coast Guard, Atlantic Ambulance, and the Newburyport Harbormaster. The incident remains under investigation by the Newburyport Police Department.
“As City Marshal, I want to commend the swift, courageous actions of the fishermen who pulled the victims from the water and got them to first responder personnel,” Simons said in Monday’s statement. “The quick response and continuity of care when first responders took over was nothing short of amazing.”
Simons described the rescue as a model of interagency coordination.
“This operation was a powerful example of interagency collaboration at its best, where training, communication, and teamwork made all the difference,” he said. Later adding, “Our focus now turns to hope and strength for the victims and their families, and healing for all involved in this traumatic event.”
