Overview
- Nahant and Swampscott police and fire, Massachusetts State Police, and DCR staff responded after an 11-year-old asked a bystander to call 911, with the call placed about 12:27–12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
- Swampscott Fire launched a rescue boat, used a lifeline to pull the exhausted 47-year-old into the boat, and crews removed him from the water about 14 minutes after the 911 call.
- The man, identified by officials as a 47-year-old East Boston resident, was treated at the scene, reported uninjured but exhausted, and declined medical transport.
- Witnesses and officials credited the boy for getting help quickly and noted crews also recovered the kite rig; the kiteboarder said a line snapped but that equipment failure is a self-reported detail rather than an independently verified finding.
- Officials praised the quick cooperation along the coastline and the rescue highlights how fast alerts, standard sea-rescue techniques, and interagency coordination can prevent a fatal outcome and may prompt renewed attention to kiteboarding safety and gear checks.