UPDATED

Man dies after he was found unresponsive in Slocum River

Jul 14, 2020

A missing fisherman has died after he was pulled from the Slocum River on Tuesday afternoon following a search and rescue operation by the US Coast Guard and Dartmouth Police, Fire and Harbormaster, according to a press release from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

According to the press release, the Dartmouth resident left his home at around 5 a.m. on July 14 to fish in his 14-foot Carolina skiff and was scheduled to return at 8:30 a.m. 

Griffith was reported overdue by his wife just before noon on July 14 after failing to turn up, according to US Coast Guard First District spokesperson Petty Officer Ryan Noel.

Searchers found his skiff unoccupied on Barney’s Joy Point at around 12:43, the district attorney’s office stated. After a further search, Robert Griffith was discovered in the water about half a mile out from Barney’s Joy and pronounced dead a short time later.

The Coast Guard gave Griffith’s age as 74, while a subsequent press release from the district attorney’s office stated he was 76 years old.

According to the district attorney’s office, foul play is not suspected.