'A tragic accident': Swimmers die in hospital days after being rescued from the Merrimack River
Two swimmers who were rescued from the Merrimack River Sunday evening have died after spending days hospitalized in critical condition, Newburyport officials announced Friday afternoon.
Officials identified the swimmers as East Boston resident Dahiana Canas and Lynn resident Vanessa Correa. Both women were 25 years old when they died, officials said in a press release.
Newburyport police and the Essex County District Attorney's Office are still investigating Canas' and Correa's deaths, but authorities' preliminary investigation suggests the women died as a result of 'a tragic accident,' officials said.
On June 8, Newburyport police and firefighters responded to a report of a swimmer in distress near Plum Island Point around 7 p.m., Newburyport officials said previously. At the scene, they discovered that both Canas and Correa needed rescuing from the water.
Read more: Two swimmers in critical condition after being rescued from the Merrimack River
Both women were pulled out of the river by local fishermen before emergency responders could get to them, officials said. Canas and Correa received medical aid at the scene before being taken to Anna Jacques Hospital in critical condition.
The women were later transferred to hospitals in Boston and Burlington, officials said. Correa died on Wednesday, and Canas died the day after.
'As a community, our hearts are heavy with the tragic news that the two young women rescued from the Merrimack River earlier this week have passed away. On behalf of the City of Newburyport, I extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones during this unimaginable time,' Newburyport City Marshal Matthew Simons said in the release.
'We are extremely grateful to the citizens and first responders who fought tirelessly to save them. We ask that the community keep all those involved in this traumatic incident in their thoughts and prayers.'
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