Fisherman drowns trying to retrieve boat that drifted from shore

MONROE - A fisherman trying to retrieve a boat that had drifted away from an island he'd been casting from drowned on Wednesday.
Police communications got the 911 call around 2:20 p.m. for a report that two people were stranded on an island and the subject had gone underwater while trying to reach the boat.
The incident location was near Nine Island at the junction of the Passumpsic and Connecticut rivers.
NHSP Marine Patrol officers converged on scene and learned that the three adult males had been fishing from Nine Island, that the victim noticed their boat was drifting away and entered the water to retrieve it. Despite attempts to throw him a life jacket, he went underwater and did not resurface, according to a State Police press release.
The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The search has been suspended for the evening, and multiple agencies will resume this morning.
Anyone who has further information related to this suspected drowning or who witnessed it is encouraged to contact Sgt. Seth Alie at 603-227-2117 or by email at Seth.P.Alie@dos.nh.gov.