Deceased and Missing Men Identified Following Boat Incident Off Manchester-by-the-Sea

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA, Mass. – October 5, 2026 – The Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker can confirm that the man who was declared deceased following a boating incident off Manchester-by-the-Sea’s Singing Beach was Carl Potter, 67, of Beverly. Another man on the boat who has not been found has been identified as James Wolcott, 37, of Hamilton. The third man on the boat, a 65-year-old man, remains hospitalized; in protecting his privacy, his name will not be released at this time. The three men, as well as a dog which was recovered alive, were aboard a vessel which was reported in distress shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 3.

The incident remains under investigation.

The response and extensive search and rescue efforts which took place throughout Saturday and Sunday included the U.S. Coast Guard Station Gloucester, Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Boston Harbormaster, Salem Harbormaster, Beverly Harbormaster, Manchester-by-the-Sea Harbormaster, Gloucester Harbormaster, Massachusetts State Police, Gloucester Police Department, Beverly Fire Department and its dive team, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, and NEMLEC, as well as many other assets and vessels from Cape Ann and across the North Shore.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Michael Keefe-Feldman

E: Michael.Keefe-Feldman@mass.gov

Office: 978-745-6610

Cell: 781-771-9779