SOUTH HADLEY — After a person was seen clinging to a sheet of ice in the Connecticut River shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, firefighters were called to the Mueller Bridge, behind 34 Canal St. but were unable to reach the victim due to challenging conditions, according to the South Hadley District 1 Fire Department.
“On arrival a person could be seen clinging to the ice approximately 150 yards from the shore,” South Hadley District 1 Fire Captain Jason Houle said in a statement released early Tuesday night. “A rescue was attempted, but the victim went under the water before he could be reached. Efforts were impacted by the river current and ice conditions.”
Houle went on to say that, “This is a recovery mission at this point, and recovery efforts will resume tomorrow.”
State Police said Wednesday that efforts to find the body were unsuccessful. The statement said that State Police responded at the request from South Hadley and Holyoke Poilce Departments after they received a 911 call reporting a person had been seen jumping from the bridge and entering the water.
Troopers from State Police Northampton barracks, the Marine Unit, Airwing and State Police Detective Unit from Hampshire/Franklin County were all on scene assisting South Hadley and Holyoke Police and Fire Departments.
That search was suspended around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and resumed Wednesday but was called off with negative findings, State Police said.
Responding to the call were Massachusetts State Police, South Hadley Police, the Holyoke Police Department as well as the Western Mass Regional Dive Team. Both South Hadley Fire Departments, Districts 1 and 2, and the Holyoke Fire Department were at the scene.
