BOSTON- The Coast Guard suspended its search Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, for a 37-year-old person reported missing in the water near Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. 

At approximately 4:27 p.m. Saturday, Coast Guard Sector Boston watchstanders received a report of a recreational vessel maneuvering in slow circles south of Graves Beach with no people visible aboard. 

Coast Guard Sector Boston issued a distress broadcast and Coast Guard Station Gloucester launched a 29-ft Response Boat-small crew, located the runaway vessel, and recovered a dog from the distressed boat. The dog has been reunited with its family. The vessel was subsequently salvaged by commercial assistance.

A search for people in the water began immediately. Manchester-by-the-Sea Harbormaster and Massachusetts State Police confirmed that three people had initially been aboard the vessel. Beverly and Manchester-by-the-Sea Harbormasters each recovered one person from the water. One person was transported by MedFlight to Massachusetts General Hospital. The second person was transported to Beverly Hospital and was reported deceased upon arrival. 

Coast Guard crews and partner agencies searched continuously for the remaining missing person. At approximately 9:44 a.m. Sunday, Massachusetts Environmental Police began searching the area with side-scan sonar and a dive team.

“The decision to suspend a search is never made lightly,” said Capt. Jamie Frederick, Sector Boston Commander. “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.” 

Agencies participating in the search included Coast Guard Sector Boston, Coast Guard Station Gloucester, Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Salem Harbormaster, Beverly Harbormaster, Marblehead Harbormaster, Gloucester Harbormaster, Manchester-by-the-Sea Harbormaster, Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department, Gloucester Police Department, Northeast Municipal Law Enforcement Council, Beverly Fire Department, Massachusetts Environmental Police and Massachusetts State Police. 

-USCG-