This updates a story posed at 8:52 p.m. WESTFIELD — A husband and wife from Westfield drowned Monday evening after jumping off a pontoon boat at Hampton Ponds to retrieve their small dog that leaped off the craft, police said. The pair was described as a 64-year-old male and 61-year-old female. Westfield Police Sgt. Raymond Manos said the couple...
This updates a story posed at 8:52 p.m.
WESTFIELD — A husband and wife from Westfield drowned Monday evening after jumping off a pontoon boat at Hampton Ponds to retrieve their small dog that leaped off the craft, police said.
The pair was described as a 64-year-old male and 61-year-old female. Westfield Police Sgt. Raymond Manos said the couple was married.
Their names were not released.
Authorities were called to the area at 6:23 p.m.
According to state police, the man jumped off the boat and entered the water to get his dog, and while attempting to reach the dog, the man became distressed. The woman then entered the water to help her husband, and she also became distressed.
The male victim was transported to Noble Hospital in Westfield and the female victim was transported to Holyoke Medical Center.
The dog survived, Manos said.
The drowning remains under investigation by state police detectives attached to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, Westfield Police Department, Environmental Police Department, Westfield Fire Department and EMS.
This is the second tragic accident at Hampton Ponds this year. Back in June, West Springfield resident Nicolae Ulinici also drowned. It's believed he entered the water from a boat and never resurfaced.