Key Points
- On October 4, 2026, the Coast Guard called off the search for a 37-year-old man who was declared missing after being spotted in the waters near Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts.
- The search came after an incident on October 3rd when a boat accident occurred near Singing Beach, with three men and a dog jumping into the water.
- The 67-year-old man was rescued from the water and was later declared dead at Beverly Hospital, while the 65-year-old man was admitted to hospital, where NBC Boston stated that his health condition was critical.
- The dog survived and was found safe and sound on the boat.
- According to the Coast Guard, the boat hit some rocks and started spinning out of control; however, the cause of the incident remains unknown.
- The search effort was performed by the Coast Guard, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Massachusetts State Police, local police and firefighters, dive units, and several harbor masters.
- The authorities have not identified either of the dead, injured, or missing men.
Manchester (Manchester Mirror) October 5, 2026 – The Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 37-year-old man who went missing after a boat crashed off the coast of Manchester-by-the-Sea, leaving one man dead and another hospitalised. The agency announced the suspension on Sunday, October 4, after a search-and-rescue operation that began the previous afternoon.
What Happened Off Singing Beach?
As reported by the U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Boston watchstanders received a report shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, of a vessel “doing slow circles” south of Graves Beach with no visible people aboard. The Boston Globe reported that Jim Wolcott, two other men and a dog had been boating off the Manchester-by-the-Sea coast when the incident occurred.
Manchester-by-the-Sea authorities were notified of a vessel in distress shortly before 4:15 p.m., according to the town’s fire department, as reported by MassLive. A medical crew soon spotted the vessel from shore, and rescuers went to its location.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Lyric Jackson, a Coast Guard spokesperson, told The Boston Globe that the boat struck rocks and began spinning out of control. CBS News Boston reported that the 30-foot boat hit rocks near Singing Beach, while officials said three men and a dog were thrown into the water.
Who Was Rescued and What Are Their Conditions?
Two men aboard the vessel, aged 67 and 65, were located and transported to area hospitals. MassLive reported that the 67-year-old man was taken to Beverly Hospital, where he was declared dead.
The 65-year-old man was flown by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, according to MassLive. NBC Boston reported that he was in critical condition, although the report noted that his condition remained unclear as of Sunday evening.
The dog was recovered from the distressed boat and reunited with its family, The Boston Globe reported. WCVB also confirmed that the dog was located and was alive.
Why Was the Search Suspended?
The Coast Guard did not say why the search was suspended, MassLive reported. The agency said only that it suspended the search on Sunday for the 37-year-old person reported missing in the water near Manchester-by-the-Sea.
“The decision to suspend a search is never made lightly,” Capt. Jamie Frederick, Sector Boston commander, said in a Coast Guard press release. “Our deepest condolences are with the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy.”
Boston.com likewise attributed the statement to Capt. Frederick, who said the decision was not made lightly. The Coast Guard’s public release did not provide a reason for ending the operation.
How Extensive Was the Search Operation?
Air Station Cape Cod crews flew over the area on Saturday, while Coast Guard Station Gloucester crews searched overnight and into Sunday morning, according to The Boston Globe.
At around 9:44 a.m. on Sunday, Massachusetts Environmental Police began searching the area using side-scan sonar and a dive team, The Boston Globe reported. Boston.com gave a closely matching time, reporting that the search with sonar and a dive team was under way at about 9:45 a.m. before the Coast Guard suspended it later that day.
MassLive reported that Manchester-by-the-Sea firefighters, police officers and the harbormaster searched on Sunday with assistance from the Essex Harbormaster, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Massachusetts State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Boston Globe added that responders also included Gloucester police, the Beverly Fire Department’s dive team and harbormasters from five communities.
What Remains Unknown?
Authorities have not identified the man who died, the man who was injured or the 37-year-old man who remains missing. They have also not said what led to the crash, according to MassLive.
The Boston Globe reported that Charlie Wolcott said in a telephone call: “It was a terrible accident, and we are in deep shock and sorrow.” The Globe did not report a formal finding on the cause of the incident.
Background of the Development
The incident occurred during a recreational boating outing off Manchester-by-the-Sea, a coastal town on Massachusetts’s North Shore. Reports from the Coast Guard and local media describe a 30-foot fishing or recreational boat that encountered rocks south of Graves Beach, near Singing Beach, before spinning out of control.
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker and Manchester Police Chief Mark McCoy were among the officials who provided initial information about the distress call, according to the New Bedford Guide. The response drew personnel from federal, state and local agencies, reflecting the multi-jurisdictional nature of maritime search-and-rescue operations along the Massachusetts coast.
The Coast Guard’s announcement that the search had been suspended came on Sunday afternoon, after crews had searched through the night and resumed with specialised sonar and diving resources earlier that morning.
Prediction: How This May Affect Local Boaters and the Community
For Manchester-by-the-Sea residents, recreational boaters and coastal-safety audiences, the development is likely to increase attention on nearshore navigation, rock hazards and emergency-response readiness around Singing Beach and Graves Beach. The confirmed loss of life and the suspension of the search may prompt local authorities and boating organisations to re-emphasise lifejacket use, communication equipment, weather and tide checks, and caution when operating close to rocky shoreline.
For the families directly affected, the suspension of the search is likely to prolong uncertainty, as the 37-year-old man has not been located and officials have not released further details about the crash. For the wider boating community, the case may become a reference point in future discussions about safety procedures, although no official cause has yet been established and no regulatory outcome has been announced.
