27-year-old man dies after being pulled from rip current at Hampton Beach

Max Sullivan, Portsmouth Herald
·2 min read

HAMPTON — A Massachusetts man who was pulled to shore in an ocean rescue last month has died, according to authorities.

Edmilson Gomes, 27, of Brockton, Massachusetts, died Aug. 1, according to his obituary, 10 days after first responders pulled him and two others to shore from a dangerous rip current at Hampton Beach. Gomes and two of his co-workers were in the water across from Nudd Avenue around 8:25 p.m. when they became caught in a rip current July 22, Hampton fire officials said.

A Massachusetts man, who was pulled to shore in an ocean rescue after being caught in a rip current July 22, has died.
A Massachusetts man, who was pulled to shore in an ocean rescue after being caught in a rip current July 22, has died.

Gomes was unresponsive when he was brought to shore by first responders that included off-duty lifeguards. He was treated on the beach with advanced cardiac life support, or ACLS, for several minutes, according to the Hampton Fire Department, and then transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital. The rescue effort included bystanders who created a "human chain" to reach the swimmers, according to Hampton Fire Chief Michael McMahon.

Previous story: 'Human chain' formed to save swimmers caught in rip current

Gomes remained in a coma in the days following the incident, according to his co-worker Edzana Fernandes, who was also rescued that day. She said he had been beginning to move his hands while in the hospital and had hopes he would get better.

McMahon said his funeral service was scheduled for Monday. Gomes left behind his mother, siblings and other relatives. He was born in Fogo, Cape Verde, according to the obituary.

Authorities, including the Hampton Beach lifeguards, warn beachgoers to be wary of rip currents, which pull swimmers away from shore and appear between sand bars. Hampton Beach lifeguard Chief Patrick Murphy said Tuesday they had made 299 water rescues this summer.

Water Safety Day: What Hampton Beach lifeguards want you to know

McMahon said there is typically one fatality a year due to drowning. He said there has been only one this year but that there have been many close calls in 2023.

“It’s always tragic,” McMahon said. “It’s very frequently young people who are just visiting to have a good time with friends and family.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Massachusetts man dies after Hampton Beach NH rip current rescue