Rescuers searching for man who disappeared in Billerica pond

BILLERICA, Mass. -- A search is underway for a man who fell off a boat and into Nutting Pond in Billerica.

Several people at a nearby restaurant said they saw a boat with no one in it headed toward the shore.

Shortly thereafter, they saw a man out in the center of the pond calling for help.

Two girls got in a canoe and a man swam out in an effort to help before search teams arrived. A police officer driving by on a bike also jumped in to help, but got tangled up in reeds and had to be pulled out.

Rescue teams headed in from both sides of the pond. Divers had trouble with the reeds as well, as one had to be cut free.

Employees and patrons at the restaurant on the water were shaken up by what they saw.

“Yeah I was on the deck and all of a sudden you heard the splash and the boat was just going by itself and then the guy was yelling for like a minute or so, and then he went under and hasn’t been back up since,” said David, a witness.

“I went inside and asked any of my customers if they knew how to swim to come out and help. Someone was already on the phone with 911,” said Patricia Bellini, a witness.

Crews called off the search late Wednesday night and will continue Thursday morning.

Boats along the shore have been searching through the tangled reeds. Local residents said that while the lake looks still, there is a bit of a current that could have pulled the man closer to the shore.

There is no word on the identity of the man, but he is believed to be 29 years old. 

Stay with 7News and WHDH.com as more information becomes available.

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