NEWBURY — Emergency personnel from multiple communities responded to the Parker River on Thursday night for a water rescue in a heavily wooded area near Forest and River streets.
The Newbury Fire and Police departments received a report shortly after 6:30 p.m. about a man caught in the river’s high, rapid current, according to a release issued by Police Chief Patricia Fisher and Fire Chief David Evans.
A bystander tried to enter the ice-cold river to reach the man but could not. The bystander was given medical treatment and released.
Authorities remained at the scene well into the night. The public was asked to avoid the area.
Among those called in to assist were Northeast Ambulance, Atlantic Ambulance, Cataldo Ambulance, Cataldo Rehab, West Newbury Fire, Georgetown Fire, Merrimac Fire, Lawrence Fire, the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Beverly Fire Dive/Rescue Team, the chiefs said.
First responders from other area communities were also on hand, including those from Newburyport and Amesbury.
See newburyportnews.com on Friday as more details become available.