Mother-of-Four Dies Saving Son in Tragic River Incident at Franconia Falls
In a heartbreaking incident at Franconia Falls, a mother-of-four tragically lost her life while trying to save one of her young children. Melissa Bagley, 44, was hiking with her family and a friend when her 10-year-old son slipped and fell into a river near the popular waterfall.
According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief, the boy found himself trapped in a pool with a fast, circulating current. Without hesitation, Melissa jumped into the river to rescue her child, but she immediately encountered trouble.
Witnessing their mother’s distress, two of Melissa’s children also bravely dove into the water to help her and their brother. They successfully managed to save their brother, but unfortunately, another brother became trapped among the boulders during the rescue attempt.
Meanwhile, Melissa’s husband embarked on a search to find her. After spotting her on a rock, he promptly administered CPR but, despite his efforts, Melissa could not be revived. The children’s father subsequently reached the location of their trapped brother, successfully pulling him to safety. He then returned to his wife’s side, waiting for rescue personnel to arrive.
Upon reaching the falls, the rescue teams discovered that Melissa had tragically succumbed to the incident. They also tended to two individuals with non-life-threatening injuries, who were subsequently taken to Littleton Regional Healthcare for evaluation and treatment.
The Everett Police Department in Massachusetts shared the devastating news on Facebook, announcing that Lt. Sean Bagley’s wife had lost her life during a family outing in the White Mountain area. Calling for privacy and respect during this time of mourning, they shared that Melissa drowned while bravely trying to save one of her children who had slipped into the river.
This heart-wrenching incident serves as a reminder of the dangers that can unexpectedly arise during outdoor activities. It highlights the importance of water safety precautions and the need for quick, appropriate action when emergencies occur.
As we grieve alongside Lt. Sean Bagley and his family, our thoughts go out to them during this unimaginably difficult period.
