Boater medflighted, runaway boat secured after incident in Salem

A 21-year-old man was seriously injured after being thrown from a boat in Salem on Sunday night, officials say.

Salem Harbormaster Bill McHugh told Boston.com he was alerted about the incident by good Samaritans who reported that a boat was operating in tight circles — an indication that there might be a person in the water. 

McHugh said he then boarded and stopped the boat.

The victim — who Salem police have identified as Alexander Hendrix Everitt of Manchester, Massachusetts — was recovered and medflighted, McHugh said, and he is now receiving treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital.

McHugh said instances like this “are not that uncommon” and called it a “teaching moment,” noting the importance of wearing a safety lanyard designed to shut off a boat’s engine if the operator is thrown off course.

It is unknown how Everitt’s injuries occurred, but the Salem Harbormaster said it appears he was struck by his own boat. 

It is also not clear how Everitt was ejected. McHugh said the investigation remains ongoing.

Salem Harbormaster is describing how he was able to coral an out of control boat after man on board ended up overboard last night before being airlifted to a Boston hospital in stable condition#7News pic.twitter.com/EmQVi8UMTn

— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) July 29, 2024