Tragedy Strikes Lynn, MA, Family In Swimming Incident In Lincoln

LINCOLN, NH — Tragedy struck a Massachusetts family when one person died and two others were injured when they went swimming at Franconia Falls in Lincoln Tuesday.

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified of a hiker that required assistance near Franconia Falls, an area on the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River in the White Mountain National Forest in Lincoln. An SOS text came in through 911 stating a person was trapped, and multiple people were involved. Several minutes later, another text was received indicating a possible drowning.

New Hampshire Marine Patrol, New Hampshire Fish and Game, Lincoln Fire Rescue, Lincoln Police, and Linwood Ambulance responded to the scene. Unable to confirm the events due to a lack of cell phone coverage at Franconia Falls and the Lincoln Woods trailhead, fish and game requested the Lincoln Fire Department respond with a UTV.

Conservation officers were also requested to respond with their ATVs. As rescue crews made their way the 3.5 miles into Franconia Falls, another hiker was running out to the Lincoln Woods trailhead to help. That hiker was able to provide more information to rescue personnel about the incident and the victims’ location.

Once rescue crews arrived at the falls, they were able to locate two people who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and one deceased person. Two of the victims were brought out to the trailhead and transported to Littleton Regional Healthcare for further evaluation and treatment by Linwood Ambulance.

Fish and Game and Marine Patrol, through interviews, learned that a Lynn, Massachusetts, family of five and a friend from Salem, MA, arrived at the Lincoln Woods trailhead at approximately 1 p.m. and planned to hike to Franconia Falls. Once they arrived at the falls, they began to get ready to swim. A 10-year-old boy fell into one of the pools at the falls. He could not escape the pool as had a fast, circulating current. The 44-year-old mother jumped into the river to help her child and began to have trouble immediately. Two other children jumped into the river to help their brother and mother. They were able to get their brother out of the water, but in doing so, another brother became lodged in the boulders and could not escape.

The father was also trying to find the mother. He eventually found her on a rock and immediately began CPR. Unfortunately, she was unable to be revived. The father reached his son’s location and pulled him to safety. He returned to his wife’s location and waited for personnel to arrive.

The woman was transported to the trailhead and picked up by Mayhew Funeral Home. Conservation Officers and the Lincoln Fire Department were assisted in the rescue efforts by the Lincoln Police Department and the NH DOS Marine Patrol.

On Wednesday, fish and game released the name of the victim, Melissa Bagley, 44, of Lynn, MA.

This is an ongoing investigation, but alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor. Marine patrol is asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has additional details to contact New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol Sergeant Joshua Dirth at 603-227-2115 or Joshua.E.Dirth@dos.nh.gov, or call State Police dispatch at 603-846-3333.

Names of the victims are being withheld. No further information is available at this time, according to conservation officers.