Former Swampscott Football Coach Drowns Off King's Beach

William J. Ryan, 54, of Swampscott died Wednesday afternoon after being pulled unconscious from the water just beyond Swampscott Harbor.

Ryan, known as “Bill” to the Swampscott schools community, worked as a freshman football coach at Swampscott High School last year and had been an assistant coach with the football program for several years prior to that.

“We are stunned and saddened by the news of Bill Ryan’s death yesterday,” Superintendent Pamela Angelakis said in a statement Thursday morning. “Our football team and many of our Swampscott staff are understandably devastated over this tragedy and counselors were put in place early [Thursday] morning to help with their grief. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

Swampscott Fire Capt. Kevin Thompson said a call came in to 911 at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday that a man who had left King’s Beach to attempt and retrieve a boat could no longer be seen in the water. Ryan was unconscious and in cardiac arrest when rescuers found and pulled him from the water shortly thereafter. He was pronounced dead at Salem Hospital Wednesday evening.

According to the Essex County District Attorney’s office, there are no indications of foul play in connection with Ryan’s death.