A 44-year-old Methuen man drowned while trying to save a child struggling to swim at Salisbury Beach on Wednesday, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
Gary Simard had been enjoying the day with his family at the beach when one of the children with the family was pulled from the shoreline deeper into the ocean, and was unable to swim in, the office stated.
Simard and two other bystanders went into the water to try and rescue the child, the office stated.
The two bystanders were able to rescue the child and return to shore — but the 44-year-old man was not with them, the office said, and the bystanders were unable to find or see him.
The Salisbury Police and Fire Departments responded to the area of 266 North End Blvd. by the ocean and found Simard in the water. They performed life-saving measures on the beach, the office said.
Simard was brought to Seabrook Emergency Room where he was pronounced dead, the office stated.
