Lowell mother who died in Merrimack River trying to save her children identified, search for son, 6, continues

State police have identified the 29-year-old Lowell mother who died Thursday trying to save her two children in the Merrimack River. The search for one of them — a 6-year-old boy — continues.

Boua DeChhat drowned after entering the swift current of the river Thursday evening in an attempt to save her 7-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.

DeChhat and her daughter were pulled from the water by a boat operator and brought to shore, according to the Massachusetts State Police. They were transported to Anna Jacques Hospital, where Boua DeChhat was pronounced dead. Her daughter was treated and released.

Her son, Mas DeChhat, is the subject of an ongoing water search by 12 divers from the State Police Underwater Recovery Unit, along with four boat operators from the Department’s Marine Unit. Boston Fire Department divers, Amesbury, Newburyport and other fire and police departments are assisting in the search.

The search continued into early evening Friday without result before resuming 8 a.m. Saturday.

Rescue divers are using “sidescan sonar,” according to the State Police, which is a device deployed from a boat which “uses sound waves to map and detect objects and anomalies in the water column and on the bottom.” If the sonar detects anything, divers descend to investigate.

This is a developing story.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/Zky3enf