Local News
“Based on statements from individuals who witnessed the drowning, the victim went under the water in a matter of seconds.”
A man in his 20s died after he drowned in a quarry Friday in a small town in Western Massachusetts, officials said. His body was recovered Saturday.
The man, who was not identified, was swimming with a woman across the Becket Quarry in Becket when he struggled and “quickly submerged under the water,” the Berkshire District Attorney’s office announced Sunday. The man’s group, including the woman, tried to find him but were unsuccessful.
“Based on statements from individuals who witnessed the drowning, the victim went under the water in a matter of seconds,” DA Timothy Shugrue said in a statement.
Police and crews responded to the quarry around 5:36 p.m. on Friday night when, in addition to a physical search, dive teams used an underwater rover, which successfully located the man’s body.
However, due to a malfunction of the rover and visibility conditions, the dive team reconvened on Saturday morning at the quarry to recover the victim’s body, the DA said.
The Pittsfield Fire Department, along with the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Lenox Fire Department, and more said the agencies were part of the recovery effort, the department said. Pittsfield fire said the man was still submerged Saturday morning.
“Our hearts go out to the individual’s friends and family,” the department said on Facebook.
The quarry is managed by the Trustees of Reservations, which notes on its website that “cliff diving and swimming in the quarry pit is prohibited.” There is no visibility in the water, where old equipment and downed trees can lay, nonprofit said.
“The Berkshires have experienced a number of drownings, from children to adults, in the past few years. It is of critical importance to respect the danger that water presents,” Shugrue said. “In this hot weather, I urge all residents to practice safety and vigilance while swimming in lakes, rivers and pools. Even strong swimmers must take safety precautions in the water.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.