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NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Police in Newburyport have identified a man who was found dead in the Merrimack River as a beloved local musician known as "Bahama Bob".
Robert Urzi's body was found in the Merrimack River early Tuesday morning in the area near the Whittier. An investigation is underway into the cause of death, but at the moment, foul play is not suspected, according to Newburyport Police.
In a Facebook post, Newburyport Police said Bahama Bob was a "staple of the local music scene" and offered their condolences to his family and friends. Newburyport mayor Sean Reardon said he had seen Bahama Bob perform dozens of times and that his death is a big loss for the community because he brought people together and "was simply one of a kind."
Mayor Reardon also stressed that it is important for residents and visitors to be careful around the Merrimack River.
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"It's one of the most dangerous [river] mouths on the east coast, the current is not to be taken lightly," Mayor Reardon said. "It just moves quickly, don't ever take things for granted when you're around the water in the Newburyport area."
Last month, a mother and her six-year-old son were swept away by the river and drowned during a family outing near Deer Island.
WBZ's Drew Moholland (@DrewWBZ) reports.
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