South Watuppa Pond Search Concluded for the Day; Missing Man Identified

Bristol County District Attorney’s Office

Thomas M. Quinn III

District Attorney

Media Advisory

July 17, 2016

The search for a 35-year-old Fall River man who went overboard from a boat Saturday afternoon in South Watuppa Pond has concluded for the evening. The search will continue Monday morning.

The missing man has been identified as Emerson Belirio, 35, of Fall River.

Fall River Police received a call around 4:45 pm Saturday regarding a man overboard in the pond. Rescue personnel responded to the Dave’s Beach boat ramp and began searching for the missing man in the pond. The search continued until nightfall, and was then suspended until this morning. The search continued today until 7 p.m..

The search is being conducted by Fall River Police, Fall River Fire, the Environmental Police, Fall River Emergency Management, Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to this office and a Sonar Boat being operated by Bob Anderson of Ocean Server.

The missing boater is a 35-year-old Fall River man. The man was a passenger on a 20-foot Sea King Cabin Cruiser. He, along with his wife, their two children, and another married couple who own the boat were all on the vessel at the time of the incident. Foul play is not suspected at this time, nor does it appear that alcohol had any role in the incident.

Contact:

Gregg Miliote

Director of Communications

508-997-0711

774-292-9576—cell