Body Recovered Off Gale's Ledge in Manchester Sunday

McCoy said the work performed Sunday by local police, fire and harbormaster personnel is among the most difficult responsibilities public safety officials face.”

A body was recovered from the waters off Gale's Ledge in Manchester Sunday morning, three weeks after a boating accident off Singing Beach left one man dead and another missing.

The body was discovered by a local fisherman Sunday, October 25, and reported to authorities in a call that came in at approximately 11:03 a.m.  Manchester Harbormaster personnel recovered the body and transported it by boat to Tuck's Point—otherwise quiet and peaceful on a Sunday morning—where Manchester Police and Fire Department personnel were waiting.

Manchester Police Chief Mark McCoy confirmed that the Essex County District Attorney's Office will handle identification of the body.  As of Monday morning, authorities had not formally identified the deceased.

McCoy said the work performed Sunday by local police, fire and harbormaster personnel is among the most difficult responsibilities public safety officials face.

The discovery comes as authorities continue to investigate the October 3 accident involving Sasparilla, a Manchester-registered, four-engine power catamaran that was found partially submerged off Singing Beach.

That accident claimed the life of Carl Potter, 67, of Beverly, and left James Wolcott, 37, of Hamilton, missing.  A third man aboard the vessel, Randy Ayer, 65, of Hamilton, survived and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital.  A dog aboard the vessel was recovered alive.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the body recovered Sunday is Wolcott's.

Recovery at Tuck's Point

Following the report of a body in the water, local police, fire and harbormaster personnel responded.

Manchester Police and Fire Department personnel initially assembled near the Manchester Yacht Club launch dock at Tuck's Point, and after waiting and communicating with the incoming recovery vessel, they moved and repositioned to the adjacent public dock to receive the harbormaster's boat.

The body was brought ashore at the public dock, where authorities took custody.  Police asked anyone present in the public park to leave during the recovery.  The few people at the dock complied quickly, thanking the personnel for their service.

The location of Sunday's discovery, off Gale's Ledge, is along the Manchester coastline, not far from the waters where the October 3 boating emergency unfolded.  Radio information first reported the location of the body to be off of Pilgrim’s Ledge, which is near House Island and Gale’s Ledge.

Investigation Continues

The Coast Guard suspended its search for Wolcott on October 4, after approximately 20 hours of searching involving federal, state and local agencies.  Search teams employed aircraft, rescue vessels and specialized underwater sonar equipment.

The investigation into the original accident remains ongoing.

Coast Guard Sector Boston Public Affairs Ensign Duncan Lemarbre previously told the Cricket that initial evidence suggested Sasparilla may have struck a submerged object, possibly a rock formation, at a high rate of speed.  Both hulls of the vessel showed impact damage, with extensive damage to the bottom of the left hull.  Neither Ayer nor Potter were wearing life vests.

The vessel was recovered and transported to Crocker's Boat Yard in Manchester, where Massachusetts Environmental Police took custody of it as part of the investigation.

For now, authorities have not established a connection between Sunday's recovery and the October 3 accident.  

Formal identification by the Essex County District Attorney's Office is pending.