We Need More Lifeguards on the Merrimack River

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Newburyport locals awoke on December 3, 2025 to a tragic story of yet another Merrimack River victim. A man was last reported clinging for survival to the side of his skiff near the chain bridge, after the rough current took control of his boat and he was thrown under. Unfortunately, first responders were unable to find and rescue him, and have suspended search operations. This extremely recent event was not a part of my original article, but due to it’s timeliness and relevance, I hope this brings an ever-urgent meaning to my message, and highlights the extreme dangers of the waters in this city.

From May through September, Plum Island Beach is alive with sunseekers and bathers—families unfolding beach chairs, kids sprinting to the water, and tourists eager for a perfect summer day. Yet beneath the surface of this picturesque postcard lies a serious danger. This popular beach is situated at the mouth of the Merrimack River, where unpredictable currents and limited lifeguard coverage turn this recreation into risk. Without stronger safety enforcement, Plum Island’s waves will continue to claim lives that could have been saved. 

Beginning in Franklin, New Hampshire, the Merrimack River rushes 115 miles south, before emptying into the Atlantic in Newburyport, Massachusetts. As the fourth largest watershed in New England, this beast of a river is notorious for its treacherous mouth: the jaws of the Atlantic Ocean. Awarded the name Merremack by a local French colony in the early 17th century, its derived meaning still holds true. The History of Manchester breaks this word into its two elements: merruh (“strong,”) and auke (“place,”) appropriately meaning “place of strong current.”

Prone to harsh undertows, intense flooding, and shifting sandbars, the Merrimack’s meeting with the ocean creates violent conditions that few swimmers—or even experienced boaters—can handle safely. Conveniently, Plum Island beach, a popular destination for both residents and tourists alike, is situated right at the choppy outflow of this waterway. It’s no secret that this river is extremely dangerous and poses a large risk for anyone who desires to engage with it; however, many people still take the gamble. Being next to the fourth most dangerous river in America, a strong and visible lifeguard presence should be a permanent necessity, not an afterthought.

Tragically, recent summers (and winters) have made the dangers of weak enforcement of lifeguard coverage increasingly clear. Anyone who checked the local news this past June was painfully aware of the haunting drowning story that shook the town. In June, Two women swimming off of Plum Island Point were pulled from the river by first responders after being found unresponsive in the water. Days later they tragically died in the hospital. Additionally, a 47-foot boat capsized and sank after leaving the Salisbury Marina in late August. Two passengers were on board, but only one was found and rescued. The other individual remains missing. In 2022, a family visiting Deer Island lost their six-year-old son who entered the Merrimack. The boy’s mother followed him in the water, attempting to save him, but ended up drowning catastrophically as well. These are just a few of the many incidents that get reported each year as a result of Newburyport’s unsafe waters.

The  United States Coast Guard recognized this danger more than a century ago, designating its very first location on the banks of the Merrimack. In a Boston Globe article, Petty Officer 1st Class Joe Habel explains, “the Coast Guard has four unique “surf” stations on the East Coast where you have navigable water where there’s 8-plus feet of breaking waves for 36 days or more.” Newburyport is arguably the most intense of the four. If the US coast guard considers this region one of the most threatening along the Atlantic, the city should recognize lifeguard staffing a top priority.

To address this ongoing issue, Newburyport needs to implement a clear and sustained strategy for Plum Island Beach. The city needs to expand lifeguard coverage from May through early September, ensuring supervision during peak beach hours and weekends. Salisbury beach, just across the river is a shining example of how regimented lifeguard attendance is an effective means of protecting the public at large. 

Plum Island Beach is one of Newburyport’s many treasures, but it comes with real danger. The city owes it to its residents and visitors to make safety a priority. By implementing a stronger lifeguard presence, the city will be making an insurmountable impact on the wellbeing of the entire community. The Merrimack’s unforgiving currents deserve a powerful defense system that the public can rely on and trust.

Isla Trail
Newburyport High School student

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