Report from Essex County District Attorney’s Office: Witnesses said Michael Ventura, 31, of Apple Street had been fishing from a canoe off 44 Margin Street when he fell into the Merrimack River roughly 75 feet from shore about 4:45 p.m. Sunday. The witnesses were unable to reach Ventura and alerted authorities.
Members of the Haverhill Police Department, Haverhill Fire Department, Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Unit and Massachusetts Environmental Police responded. A Haverhill firefighter was able to locate Ventura about 75 feet from where he entered the river.
Ventura was pronounced deceased at 6:20 p.m. Sunday.
The incident remains under investigation by the Haverhill Police Department and members of the Essex County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective Unit but foul play is not suspected at this time.
