Michael and Laura Cote (Credit. St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Dracut, MA/Facebook)
SEABROOK, New Hampshire (WBZ-AM) -- Two people are dead after several swimmers had to be rescued from rough surf in Seabrook, New Hampshire.
It was shortly after noon on Sunday when several swimmers got into trouble on a stretch of beach where there are no lifeguards on patrol. According to State Police, a good Samaritan assisted, trying to get some of the swimmers to shore. Two of the swimmers were unconscious when they were helped to shore, and CPR was started.
In a facebook post from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Dracut, MA, Father Sean Maher, identified the victims as Michael and Laura Cote.
"We are deeply saddened to have learned last night and today that Michael and Laura Cote, both truly devoted followers of Christ, have passed away following the swimming incident at Seabrook, New Hampshire. They did so much to come to know Jesus and His and our Father in this life that they are truly going to meet a Friend. They were so involved in every spiritual and other undertaking in this parish that many of us are in deep mourning," Maher said in the post.
The Parrish will hold a Holy Hour vigil Monday night at 7p.m.
(Ben Parker/WBZ NewsRadio 1030)
One of the victims, a man from Methuen, was taken to Anna Jaques Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The second, a woman from Methuen, was taken to Portsmouth Regional Hospital in critical condition and died Monday. They have not yet been identified.
Four others were rescued but not injured.
One woman told WBZ-TV there was a large response to the beach.
"Three ambulances, there was a lot of people," she said. "We just saw them pull them out, and they were working on them rapidly."
In addition to local police and firefighters, some lifeguards from Hampton Beach also responded to the scene on boats and jet skis.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker (@radiobenparker) reports