A 37-year-old Massachusetts man lost his life on Sunday, August 20, while rescuing family members from a fast-moving current in the Swift River in Albany, New Hampshire.
This incident marks the second such death in less than a week in the state, according to authorities.
According to a news release by the New Hampshire Department of Public Safety, Vincent Parr, from Lawrence, Massachusetts, rushed to aid his wife and her 19-year-old son when they became trapped in the swift waters around midday. Parr was then caught in the current.
While the mother and son reached the riverbank safely, bystanders assisted Parr, who was later pronounced dead after unsuccessful lifesaving efforts at the scene.
Parr’s mother, Becca Parr, expressed both deep sorrow and pride for her son’s brave actions. “He had always been selfless,” she said on Monday. “I know he didn’t think for a moment, ‘I could die.’ He just did what he felt he had to. He was a loving soul, kind-hearted, and always put others first.”
The circumstances surrounding Parr’s death are under investigation. The State Police Marine Patrol is urging any witnesses to come forward.
In a separate incident last Tuesday, roughly 20 miles from where Parr died, Melissa Bagley, 44, of Lynn, Massachusetts, drowned while trying to save her 10-year-old son who had fallen into a swift current at Franconia Falls. Both tragedies took place within the White Mountain National Forest.