A major multi-agency search and rescue operation continues off the coast of Manchester-by-the-Sea following a serious boating accident on Saturday afternoon, according to reporting by The Manchester Cricket.
- The Incident & Response: On Saturday, October 3, 2026, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard received reports of a 30-foot center-console fishing boat in distress off Singing Beach after a 911 caller spotted the vessel. The Manchester-by-the-Sea Police, Fire, and Harbor Departments responded to the scene alongside a extensive network of regional agencies.
- Status of the Occupants: Three passengers (men aged 67, 65, and 37) and a dog entered the water during the crash:
- Two passengers and the dog were retrieved from the water and transported for emergency medical care. The 67-year-old man was taken to Beverly Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The 65-year-old man was airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital in critical condition.
- The 37-year-old man remains missing as search operations continue.
- The dog was rescued alive from the vessel.
ADVERTISEMENT
- Responding Agencies: The search effort has drawn extensive support across Cape Ann and the North Shore, including the U.S. Coast Guard Station Gloucester, Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Gloucester Police Department, Essex Police/Harbor, Beverly Fire Department and its dive team, the NEMLEC Drone Unit, Beverly Drone Unit, and Harbormasters from Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, Salem, Danvers, and Beverly.
- Investigation & Next Steps: Environmental Police have taken custody of the recovered vessel, which was retrieved between Black and White beaches. While initial reports suggested the boat may have struck rocks or taken on water, the exact cause and location of the crash remain under investigation. The search remains active, with the next official update expected on October 4.
