Search for R.I. woman who went overboard ferry suspended

December 6, 2021 7:12 pm

Joseph Richard, Cori Dubois, Olivia DaRocha, Sam LaFrance, Emmalyn Reid,

Photo credits: Jason Lamie

BRISTOL, R.I. (WLNE)- Search efforts continued Tuesday, with several emergency services and agencies looking for the 39-year-old woman who fell overboard the Prudence Island Ferry Monday night.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced at noon on Tuesday that the search had been suspended pending further investigation.

Police say due to hypothermic water conditions overnight, the search has now turned into a recovery operation. The search was called off around 11 p.m. Monday, due to high winds, darkness, and rough seas, and resumed Tuesday morning at 9.

In a statement to ABC6 Tuesday afternoon, The Prudence & Bay Islands Transport says “We are fully cooperating with the ongoing search and investigation… our thoughts are with the woman’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

Coast Guard crews are searching the waters again this morning for the woman who fell overboard the ferry to Prudence Island. We’ve also seen helicopters searching nearby.

Bristol Fire Chief just arrived and says he will update us shortly on the search efforts for today. @ABC6 pic.twitter.com/FE40N1VZ02

— Laura Pugliese (@LPuglieseABC6) December 7, 2021

Passengers told law enforcement that the vessel was reportedly west of Hog Island, around Poppasquash Point, when the woman fell off.

Several witness accounts say the woman intentionally climbed over the desk and then jumped into the water.

Bristol police told an ABC6 News crews that the woman was a Prudence Island resident and was traveling by car on the ferry with someone else, wearing a green jacket at the time she went over the side of the vessel.

Portsmouth police said in a statement on Tuesday the woman is a 39-year-old from Prudence Island.

Police say she wasn’t wearing a life jacket when she went overboard.

But, The Prudence Bay Island Transport public policy, listed on its website, does not list anything about riders being required to wear life jackets.

A rescue crew on the ferry tossed a life ring in effort to help. Once the ferry docked at Prudence Island, police were notified. Members of the Marine Task Force and U.S. Coast Guard responded to thoroughly search surrounding land & water via U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, foot searches, and emergency response vessels.

“The efforts are focusing from the Bristol harbor here to the south end of Prudence Island,” Bristol Fire Chief Michael DeMello said. “Last night, the ferry was about halfway to Prudence Island from Bristol, so that’s where we’re focusing the search and between the currents and the wind, are expanding the search efforts.”