MA Hurricane Nigel Rip Current Warning After Man Drowns In Salisbury

BEVERLY, MA — A rip current warning was issued for coastal areas of Massachusetts on Thursday after a Methuen man drowned on Wednesday while trying to save a child in Salisbury.

The National Weather Service issued a warning on Thursday for eastern Essex and eastern Plymouth counties with a high-risk advisory to expect stronger-than-usual currents as well as a high surf advisory along nearly the state's entire coastline because of Hurricane Nigel.

The warning was put in place until 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

"Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water," the National Weather Service said. "Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help."

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The rip current risk was high despite Hurricane Nigel being more than 1,300 miles offshore as of Thursday afternoon.

The warning came a day after a Methuen man died while trying to save a child in Salisbury.

The Essex County District Attorney's Office said Gary Simard, 44, saw a child being pulled away from the shoreline and was unable to swim against the current. Witnesses said Simard, along with two other people, went into the water to help the child and that while the child was able to be rescued Simard did not return to the shore.

Salisbury police and fire responded to the area of 266 North End Boulevard and were able to locate the victim in the ocean. Despite life-saving measures on the beach, Simard was pronounced dead after being taken to Seabrook Emergency Room.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)