Somerset Fire Dept. Leading Water Search for Missing Man in Taunton River

SOMERSET — The Somerset Fire Department is currently conducting a water search in the Taunton River for a boater who has been missing since Friday night.

According to Fire Chief Jamison Barros, the man is believed to have gone boating on Friday night and did not return.

Barros said in a release that at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, the fire department received information from the Somerset Harbormaster that “a man had taken a dinghy onto the river from the Somerset Yacht Club on Gay Street at about 5 p.m. on Friday, but had not returned.” The man’s car was still parked in the yacht club parking lot on Saturday morning.

Get our free mobile app

A coordinated grid search is being conducted on the water from the Braga Bridge to the town of Dighton. The search was still underway as of 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Somerset Fire Department activated a task force that includes the Somerset Police Department; the Somerset Harbormaster; the Somerset Police and Fire Drone Teams; the Tiverton, RI Marine Unit; the Bristol, RI Marine Unit; the Fall River Harbormaster; the Fall River Fire Department; the U.S. Coast Guard; and Massachusetts Environmental Police. The Massachusetts State Police Air Wing unit is also assisting.