Officials find body of missing Fall River man who fell overboard into pond
After searching for more than two days, officials announced Tuesday morning that they had recovered the body of a Fall River man who had jumped from a boat into South Watuppa Pond.
The missing boater, Emerson Belirio, had jumped overboard wearing an “unsecured life jacket” Saturday afternoon, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s office.
The 35-year-old had been a passenger on a 20-foot Sea King Cabin Cruiser with his finance and their two children, along with another married couple, who owned the boat. The boat was near the center of the lake when Belirio jumped into the water, officials said.
According to the DA’s office, he quickly went underwater and did not re-emerge.
Fall River police received the call that Belirio was missing Saturday afternoon and began searching the pond with other local rescue personnel until nightfall.
Authorities said the search continued all day Sunday morning and “for most of the day” Monday, before Fall River Harbor Master Robert Smith located Belirio’s body in the pond shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday.
The body was transferred Tuesday into the custody of the state Medical Examiner’s office.
According to the DA’s office, foul play is not currently suspected, nor does alcohol appear to have had any role in the incident.
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