Authorities say a 66-year-old Duxbury man, identified as James Merlin, drowned in Duxbury Bay after multiple 911 calls reported a swimmer in distress near Bradford Road on Sunday afternoon.
It was just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday when calls began flooding in about a swimmer in trouble in Duxbury Bay, near Bradford Road. By the time the Duxbury Fire Department arrived at the beach, bystanders had already pulled the man from the water and rushed to save him.
Authorities later identified the victim as 66-year-old James Merlin, of Duxbury, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz’s office. Multiple 911 callers reported a swimmer in distress around 4:34 p.m., and police received reports that an unresponsive man was floating in the water.
Bystanders jumped in, reached the swimmer, and brought him to shore. An off-duty Duxbury police officer who was already at the scene immediately began administering CPR, according to fire officials.
Duxbury Fire Department crews arrived alongside the harbormaster and police. They transferred Merlin to an ambulance, which then brought him to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth. Cruz’s office said Merlin was pronounced dead about an hour after police were initially called.
A family member told investigators that Merlin left his home and walked to the beach with the intention of swimming to his boat and driving it to a nearby marina.
State police are investigating the death. Cruz’s office said authorities do not believe foul play was involved.
Duxbury Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz James Merlin Duxbury Bay drowning Bradford Road 911 calls CPR Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth state police