There were two women who were rescued from the Merrimack River in Newburyport, Massachusetts, close to Plum Island on Sunday night. Both of them have now passed away. The women have been identified as Dahiana Canas, who is 25 years old and hails from East Boston, and Vanessa Correa, who is also 25 years old and hails from Lynn.
On June 8, at approximately seven o’clock in the evening, a report of a swimmer in the water off of Plum Island Point prompted the response of both police officers and firefighters. Officials from Newburyport have been quoted as saying that preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that the occurrence was “a tragic accident.”
Women are brought to shore with the assistance of fishermen.
During the time that there were two fishing boats in the vicinity, a fisherman from one of the boats took one of the women, who was unresponsive, to the shore. The Coast Guard assisted in bringing the second woman, who was likewise unresponsive, to shore by pulling her into the other boat and bringing her alongside the other passengers.
After being transported to Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, the women were then transferred to nearby hospitals in Boston and Burlington, where they remained in severe condition.
As per the statements made by city officials, Correa passed away on Wednesday, while Canas passed away on Thursday.
According to the devastating news that the two young women who were rescued from the Merrimack River earlier this week have passed away, our hearts are heavy as a community. During this incomprehensible time, I would want to express my sincerest condolences to their families and loved ones on behalf of the City of Newburyport, as stated by City Marshal Matthew Simons.
“We are extremely grateful to the citizens and first responders who fought tirelessly to save them,” Simons stated to reporters. “We ask that the community keep all those involved in this traumatic incident in their thoughts and prayers.”
Currently, the Newburyport Police Department and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office are conducting an investigation into the killings.
