Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts, August 24, 2025
News Summary
A 47-foot boat capsized and sank at the mouth of the Merrimack River near Salisbury Beach, leaving one man missing and the vessel owner rescued with non-life-threatening injuries. The U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities responded promptly to the incident, but adverse weather conditions have suspended further recovery efforts. Search operations will resume when conditions improve.
Salisbury, Massachusetts
One person rescued; one man in his 50s missing after a 47-foot boat capsized and sank Saturday afternoon at the mouth of the Merrimack River near Salisbury Beach. The United States Coast Guard rescued the vessel owner, who was medflighted to a Boston hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The second person aboard remains unaccounted for.
What happened
Massachusetts State Police were notified at about 4 p.m. on Saturday that a 47-foot vessel that had departed Salisbury Marina had begun taking on water and subsequently capsized and sank with two people on board. The Coast Guard and local authorities responded to the scene at the mouth of the Merrimack River, near Plum Island on the north shore of Massachusetts.
Immediate response and current status
- The United States Coast Guard rescued the vessel owner and arranged medflight to a Boston hospital; the individual suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The identity of the injured person has not been released.
- A second individual, described as a man in his 50s, is currently missing and unaccounted for.
- Rescue and recovery operations were suspended Saturday night because of adverse weather and unsafe sea conditions. Field patrols remained active to monitor the area.
- Authorities reported no further updates as of Saturday evening.
Agencies involved
Search and rescue efforts involved the United States Coast Guard, Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, the local Harbormaster, and Newburyport Police and Fire departments. Those agencies coordinated initial rescue efforts before operations were paused due to dangerous conditions.
Weather and sea conditions
Rough waters along the Massachusetts coastline were attributed to effects from Hurricane Erin. The area experienced large waves and strong rip currents. Several nearby beaches issued warnings about dangerous rip currents and some beaches imposed swimming bans because of the unsafe water conditions. Separate incidents in Rye, New Hampshire required rescues of people caught in strong rip currents linked to the rough seas.
Location details
The incident occurred at the mouth of the Merrimack River off Salisbury Beach, south of Plum Island. The vessel left Salisbury Marina prior to taking on water and sinking. The boat has since completely submerged.
Safety and operational concerns
Officials paused on-water search operations due to the high risk posed by the weather and sea state. Witnesses and observers at the scene expressed concern about the dangers faced by first responders during active rescue attempts. Authorities said field patrols would continue to monitor the area and that further recovery operations would resume when conditions allow.
What is known and what remains uncertain
- Confirmed: a 47-foot boat sank with two people aboard; one was rescued and medflighted to a Boston hospital; the boat has fully sunk.
- Unconfirmed: the identity and condition of the missing man in his 50s; no additional updates were available as of Saturday evening.
- Ongoing: monitoring by patrols and agencies; recovery operations to resume once conditions permit.
FAQ
What happened at Salisbury Beach?
A 47-foot boat that left Salisbury Marina began taking on water and capsized at the mouth of the Merrimack River. The vessel sank with two people aboard.
How many people were on the boat and what is their status?
Two people were on board. The owner was rescued and medflighted to a Boston hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A second person, described as a man in his 50s, remains missing.
Which agencies responded?
The United States Coast Guard led the rescue, with assistance from Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, the local Harbormaster, and Newburyport Police and Fire departments.
Why were search efforts paused?
Search and recovery operations were suspended due to rough seas and adverse weather conditions tied to Hurricane Erin. Field patrols continued to monitor the scene.
Are nearby beaches safe?
Several nearby beaches warned of dangerous rip currents and large waves; some imposed swimming bans. The public is advised to avoid entering the water while hazardous conditions persist.
Quick reference table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Mouth of the Merrimack River, Salisbury Beach (near Plum Island), Massachusetts |
| Vessel | 47-foot boat; departed Salisbury Marina; has fully sunk |
| Time reported | Approximately 4:00 p.m. Saturday |
| Persons onboard | Two; one rescued and medflighted to Boston hospital, one man in his 50s missing |
| Responding agencies | U.S. Coast Guard, Massachusetts State Police (including Air Wing), local Harbormaster, Newburyport Police and Fire |
| Current status | Search operations suspended for the night due to weather; field patrols monitoring; no further updates as of Saturday evening |
| Weather/sea conditions | Rough seas and strong rip currents linked to Hurricane Erin; large waves and unsafe conditions at nearby beaches |
| Public safety advice | Avoid entering the water; follow local beach warnings and swimming bans until conditions improve |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
One Rescued, One Missing After Boat Capsizes Off Salisbury Beach
Eileen Rita Fishing Boat Capsizes in Boston Harbor
Additional Resources
- NBC Boston
- Wikipedia: Salisbury, Massachusetts
- WCVB
- Google Search: Salisbury Beach boat capsize
- CBS News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Salisbury, Massachusetts
- Fall River Reporter
- Google News: Salisbury Beach capsized boat
- WHDH
- Google Scholar: Salisbury Massachusetts boat capsize
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