MANCHESTER — Divers from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and Manchester firefighters recovered the body of a man who jumped from the Granite Street Bridge into the Merrimack River on Tuesday.
Authorities were alerted after witnesses reported seeing a man jump into the river from the bridge.
Manchester Police, fire services, AMR ambulance, and State Police responded to the scene around 7 a.m. The man was seen entering the water from the south side of the eastbound span of the bridge, but witnesses lost sight of him as the current carried him away.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business confirmed the incident.
In response, Manchester firefighters launched two boats, and along with state police and other agencies, began searching the shoreline.
A police drone was also used in the effort to locate the man.
Upon being notified, the Fish and Game Department activated their dive team, which joined the search efforts.
Conservation officers, supporting the search with two additional boats, utilized divers tethered to a boat to navigate the 38-degree water, which was up to 20 feet deep in some areas.
The team also deployed side-scan sonar technology to identify objects on the riverbed.
The man’s body was eventually discovered beneath the pedestrian bridge.
The divers, working alongside firefighters, retrieved the body and brought the victim to shore.
The state medical examiner was called to the scene.
Manchester police have withheld the name of the deceased pending notification of kin.
Preliminary investigations suggest the victim was a man in his early sixties.
The tragic event serves as a reminder of the support available for individuals in crisis.
Those in need can contact the national helpline by dialing 988, calling or texting 1-833-710-6477.
