A man died in the Charles River after he reportedly jumped from the Longfellow Bridge and was seen struggling in the water on Monday, according to Massachusetts State Police.
First responder search teams recovered the man’s body from the Charles River after about a two-hour search in the chilly water.
“According to preliminary investigation by the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County and partner agencies, the victim appeared to jump from the Longfellow Bridge at approximately 11:30 AM, then struggled to stay afloat and called for help before fully submerging,” a State Police spokesperson said in a statement.
“The death investigation is considered open pending the Medical Examiner’s determination of the victim’s cause and manner of death,” the spokesperson added.
Police have identified the victim as a 34-year-old man, who was believed to be homeless.
Witnesses had reported seeing a man struggling in the water in the area of the Longfellow Bridge.
After the search started at around 11:30 a.m., divers recovered the man’s body at about 1:50 p.m.
The search for and eventual recovery of the victim was a joint operation by Massachusetts State Police patrols and the MSP Dive Team and Marine Unit, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Boston Fire and Police Departments, Cambridge Fire Department, Coast Guard, and Massport Fire Department.
