A search for a 25-year-old man reported missing in the water about two miles south of Narragansett town beach near Hazard Rock has turned into a recovery effort, officials said Monday.
Samnang Nou, his mother, aunt and cousin, all of Lowell, Mass., were fishing off Hazard Rock on Sunday when a large wave knocked his three relatives into the water. Nou jumped into the water to help them.
"A jetski came by and rescued one. Two others were rescued and there's still one out there," said Chief James Cotter of the Narragansett Fire Department.
Nou's mother and aunt are recovering at South County Hospital. Nou's mother is listed in stable condition. Relatives said Nou's aunt suffered more serious injuries.
Rescue crews have been searching for Nou since Sunday. The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter and a boat to assist with the search.
On Monday, the search included fire and police walking the coastline.
"Narragansett fire personnel were on shore early (Monday morning) walking the coastline with a couple members of the police department to see if they could locate anyone," said Lt. Mike Dugan of the Narragansett Police Department.
Officials said the same strong conditions that swept Nou's family prevented them from putting divers into the water.
"With the undertow with the surge of the waves coming in, it's still kind of dangerous for a diver to be that close to the rocks," Dugan said.
Rosa Fernandez, of Pawtucket, said she's been fishing off Hazard Rock for 20 years.
"When you come fish, you have to watch yourself. You never give your back to the water, because if you do, you don't know if the wave is going to come and just bring you in," she said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement