2 women pulled from water near Plum Island pronounced dead

Two women who were pulled from the water off Plum Island Point near Newburyport earlier this week have both died, officials announced Friday.

The swimmers were identified at Dahiana Canas, 25, of East Boston, and Vanessa Correa, 25, of Lynn.

First responders were called to the area at about 7 p.m. on June 8 for reports of swimmers that were in distress. Two fishing boats nearby helped police and firefighters bring the women to shore. They were both unresponsive.

Canas and Correa were brought to Anna Jacques Hospital and later transferred to hospitals in Boston and Burlington in critical condition, according to a release from Newburyport officials.

Correa died on June 11, and Canas died on June 12.

Newburyport Police and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the incident, but officials currently believe that the women died in a “tragic accident.”

“As a community, our hearts are heavy with the tragic news that the two young women rescued from the Merrimack River earlier this week have passed away. On behalf of the City of Newburyport, I extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones during this unimaginable time,” Newburyport City Marshal Matthew Simons said in a statement. “We are extremely grateful to the citizens and first responders who fought tirelessly to save them. We ask that the community keep all those involved in this traumatic incident in their thoughts and prayers.”

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