Watch CBS News

Lifeguard Saves Girl Drowning Off Plum Island

PLUM ISLAND (CBS) - A Newburyport lifeguard is being called a hero after he jumped in to save a 14-year-old girl drowning off Plum Island.

As kids frolicked in the swift current off Plum Island Point Thursday night, lifeguard Matt Hayden showed WBZ the scene of the rescue.

"She was so fatigued that she couldn't even swim," Hayden said. "She was using all of her energy just to keep her head above water."

He's talking about the 14-year-old Leominster girl who was wading waist deep with her family on an infamous sandbar when the incoming tide swept her 400 feet out into the mouth of the Merrimack River.

"It really can pull someone off their feet and take them out really, really fast if they're not paying attention," Hayden said.

Even with the sandbar invisible, you can see how it splits the calmer water and the more turbulent current. Matt swam out to keep the panicky girl afloat while a fellow lifeguard summoned the harbormaster.

Plum Island
Plum Island (WBZ-TV)

In 2010, a woman drowned when a current swept her off the very same sandbar. That incident prompted Newburyport to assign two lifeguards to each stand instead of one.

Thanks to that teamwork, the harbormaster's boat was there in minutes to pull the girl and Matt on-board.

"She was exhausted thank God for the lifeguard doing a great job," Harbormaster Paul Hogg said.

The teenager was badly shaken but OK and her stepfather greeted Matt with a firm handshake a hug back onshore.

Matt believes the girl was only seconds from going under.

"You're definitely glad that you're out here when things like this do happen and you can help out," he said.

He hopes the incident serves as a warning to swimmers that even just waist deep, the water can be dangerous in the beautiful spot.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.