Mum drowns in front of children trying to rescue son on family waterfall trip
A mum was killed in front of her children as she tried to rescue her 10-year-old son who had slipped into a waterfall on a family trip.
Brave Melissa Bagley, 44, died despite the courageous efforts of the rest of her family including her 18-year-old son, as they went into the treacherous waters after her, but to no avail.
The family of six and a friend encountered tragedy on the hiking trip to the beautiful Franconia Falls when the 44-year-old mum - who is married to a police lieutenant - saw her young son slip into the falls and be pulled along in the current. She jumped in to save him and, watching the scenario unfold, the 18-year-old son went after both of them and got stuck in some boulders, requiring an emergency rescue from the father, Lt Sean Bagley of the Everett Police Department Massachusetts.
The family of four was visiting New Hampshire from Massachusetts on vacation with a family friend when the accident happened. The other brothers were able to get the 10-year-old out of the water but were unable to save the mother. As they were getting the smaller child out of the water, the other brother got stuck in some boulders and required the father to rescue him.
The father also went searching for the mother and eventually found her on a nearby rock, unconscious. He performed CPR until medical help could arrive, but the woman died on the scene, in Lincoln - as the children watched on. The father then went to find the child trapped in the boulders and rescued him.
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A daring rescue by an entire family unit managed to save a 10-year-old from drowning, but not the mum (Getty Images/iStockphoto)"One of the minor children slipped and fell into one of the pools at the falls," Sergeant Heidi Murphy said in a news release. "He could not get out of the pool as it was a fast, circulating current. The mother jumped into the river to help her child and began to immediately have trouble."
Melissa Bagley died during a family outing in the area of the East Branch of the Pemigewasset River in the White Mountain National Forest. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reports they were told of a hiker who had drowned around 4pm.
Emergency crews made their way into the falls and found another hiker running out of the woods to find help, who showed them where the scene was, and Melissa was found dead, with two other people suffering from non-life-threatening injuries.
A New Hampshire waterfall was the site of a family tragedy as they all tried to rescue mom and the youngest son (AP)The Everett Police Department said in a post on Facebook: "The Everett Police Department is sad to report the sudden passing of Melissa Bagley 44 yrs of age,wife of Lt Sean Bagley who died during a family outing along the river in the White Mountain area yesterday afternoon. Melissa drowned while trying to aid one of her children who slipped into the river.
"While we appreciate all those who have reached out we ask that Lt Bagley and his family be given the time and space to mourn the death of Melissa. Thank you."
Melissa’s 10-year-old son slipped and fell into one of the pools at the waterfalls as they prepared to go for a swim, having just completed a three hour hike from the Lincoln Woods trailhead. He became trapped in the fast and circulating current of the pool before Melissa jumped in and got into trouble herself, too.
Melissa was just 44 (Facebook/EverettPoliceMa)Sean managed to rescue his other children, two of whom were trapped by boulders.
People have shared their condolences across social media, with one user writing on Facebook : "Super sad, you have to be careful out here. It's a lot of fun, but can be deadly. This woman died following her motherly instinct."
Another added: "Sooooo sad...in front of her babies..., please when you have littles [sic] in or around water make sure they have a life jacket on...the water is AWESOME, but danger is always around...RIP, momma...you did what a mother should do..."
"That is so heartbreaking. Mother fights to save her children, father fights to save his wife and children, children fight to save other family members. Heroism runs in their blood," a third stated.
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