Massachusetts man drowns after canoe, kayak capsize off Wolfeboro island

WOLFEBORO - One person drowned on Saturday when a canoe and kayak capsized in the waters off Grant Island.

State Police and Marine Patrol got the call around 11:05 p.m. for boaters in distress, including one who was missing, prompting a rapid water rescue response.

A collaborative investigation and search effort from multiple agencies later revealed that two separate paddle craft, a two-person kayak and a canoe, each with two people aboard left shore in Wolfeboro intending on reaching Grant Island, but soon thereafter decided to return to the shoreline.

Both vessels then capsized, putting all four occupants in the cold water. The four attempted to swim to the Grant Island shoreline using one of the capsized vessels as flotation.

A friend of the paddlers heard the distress from the shoreline and took a canoe to provide aid, successfully helping three onto the shoreline of Grant Island until First Responders arrived.

Fish and Game and Wolfeboro Fire Rescue later recovered the drowning victim, an adult male from Massachusetts, in about 15' of water. None of the paddlers had life jackets.

Although the investigation continues, the circumstances do not appear to be suspicious. The victim's name is currently being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Members of the Wolfeboro Police, Wolfeboro Fire, Tuftonboro Fire, Wakefield Fire, Alton Fire, Fish and Game, NH State Police - Troop E and Marine Patrol Units all responded to the scene.