CONTACT:
Sgt. Geoffrey Pushee
District Five
(603) 271-3361
June 14, 2019
CONCORD, NH – On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at approximately 7:30 AM, New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers responded to the Sewalls Falls boat ramp in Concord for a report of a missing fishermen whose kayak had overturned. Upon investigation at the scene it was found that two brothers were fishing together when their kayaks took on water and began to sink; forcing the brothers to try to swim to shore. While attempting to swim to shore, the brother’s encountered strong currents within the river. The older brother, identified as Sean Donahue, age 24 of Merrimack, NH, was able to successfully swim to the western shoreline and pull himself out of the river. The victim, identified as Alec Bronchuk, age 20 of Merrimack, NH, was last seen by his brother attempting to also swim to shore. After Donahue got himself to safety, he walked the shoreline in an attempt to find his brother. After unsuccessfully searching the nearby area, he found an unrelated person who called 9-1-1 for help.
Emergency responders arrived a short time later and began a search. Crews searched all day Thursday without finding Bronchuk, and returned to continue the search Friday. At approximately 2:30 PM on Friday, June 14, 2019, Bronchuk was recovered by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team, approximately 1/3 mile downriver from where he was last seen, in nine feet of water.
New Hampshire Fish and Game was assisted by Marine Patrol, New Hampshire State Police, Concord Police Department, and the Concord Fire Department.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, but there were no personal flotation devices aboard the kayaks. New Hampshire Fish and Game and Marine Patrol would like to remind all boaters that water temperatures are still cold and state law requires each boater to have a wearable life jacket with them whenever recreating on New Hampshire’s waterbodies. In addition, children ages 12 years old and younger must wear a life jacket at all times.