CORNISH, N.H. — A 21-year-old Bethel man drowned Tuesday evening in the Connecticut River in New Hampshire.
Reed McWilliams was working at a historic site near the river as an AmeriCorps volunteer.
Reed was working with the Student Conservation Association. He and about six other volunteers have been working at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, which is in Cornish, New Hampshire, which is near where the drowning occurred.
He went swimming with a colleague after work, but when he did no resurface, she called 911 at about 5:50 p.m. from the bank of the river.
Authorities launched a water rescue search for McWilliams.
They canvassed the river for about an hour before they located his body in about 8 to 10 feet of water nearest the Vermont side of the river.
Details about McWilliams’ death are not yet known and authorities continue to investigate.
A police officer said that the Connecticut River is known to have significant undertows, but that is not known as of right now if that contributed to his death or drowning.
Valley News reporter Jordan Cuddemi contributed to this report. Valley News is a newspaper in the upper New Hampshire and Vermont Valley.
