1 dead, 1 missing passenger identified after fatal boating incident off Massachusetts
The office of the Essex County district attorney identified one dead and one missing boater involved in Saturday's fatal boating incident near Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.
Carl Potter, 67, of Beverly, Massachusetts, was declared deceased following the incident and James Wolcott, 37, of Hamilton, Massachusetts, has not been found, according to a release from the district attorney's office.
Officials also said a third boater, who is 65, remains hospitalized, but his name will not be released at this time.
"The three men, as well as a dog, which was recovered alive, were aboard a vessel which was reported in distress shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 3," the release said.
The U.S. Coast Guard announced Sunday that it was suspending the search for a missing third boater off the coast of Massachusetts.
"The decision to suspend a search is never made lightly," Captain Jamie Frederick, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston Commander, said in a statement. "Our deepest condolences are with the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy. We are grateful to our local, state, and federal partners who supported the search efforts."
According to the Coast Guard, the Sector Boston watchstanders "received a report of a recreational vessel maneuvering in slow circles" with nobody seen onboard south of Graves Beach nearby the town of Manchester-by-the-Sea on Saturday afternoon.
The organization issued a "distress broadcast" after which Coast Guard Station Gloucester responded.
A rescue team located the vessel and found a dog on the boat, according to the release. The Manchester-by-the-Sea Harbormaster and state police confirmed three boaters had been on board the boat, according to the Coast Guard.
Two people were recovered from the water during the search by Beverly and Manchester-by-the-Sea Harbormasters. One was sent to Massachusetts General Hospital, and the other was sent to Beverly Hospital and was reported dead upon arrival, according to the release.
Rescue teams continued to search for the third boater, including efforts from the Massachusetts Environmental Police, who used side-scan sonar and a dive team, according to the release.
The dog has since been "reunited with its family," the release said.
