NORTH ANDOVER — A Lawrence man was underwater in Sharpner's Pond for at least 20 minutes when North Andover police Officer Daniel Lanen found him by feeling around with his foot in the murky water.
Udin Salazar-Lopez, 21, of 82 Jackson St., had a pulse as paramedics rushed him to Lawrence General Hospital last night. He was transferred minutes later to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he was listed in critical condition at press time early this morning.
Lanen was one of three police officers, followed by numerous firefighters, who dove into the pond looking for the drowning victim last night. The pond, where swimming is prohibited, is located in the Boxford State Forest.
Police received a 911 call at 6:34 p.m. about a possible drowning at the pond, where Salazar-Lopez had been celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with family and friends. He was submerged in eight to 10 feet of water about 10 feet off shore when Lanen found him, police said.
Officers Michael Gilligan and Eric Sewade, a recent police academy graduate, also immediately pulled off their gun belts and equipment and rushed to join Lanen in the search last night.
At least six firefighters also jumped into the water, feeling around with their hands and feet for the missing man.
North Andover Fire Department Lt. Fred McCarthy and his Engine Two ambulance crew of Graham Rowe and Jeff Judge were the first to join the three police officers.
"The rescue was all done by touch," said police Sgt. T.J. McEvoy. "There was no sight vision at all down there because of the dirty, mirky water. Whenever they touched the bottom, they raised more silt."
When Lanen located Salazar-Lopez, police and firefighters pulled him from the water. North Andover firefighters immediately began CPR, working to revive him until Lawrence General Hospital paramedics arrived.
Police Chief Richard Stanley praised the work of rescuers, noting their quick work gave the victim "a fighting chance."
"It was a great combined rescue effort by police and firefighters — a tremendous life-saving effort by those involved if this man survives," Stanley said.
Fire Lt. William McCarthy agreed.
"Police and firefighters were working quite hard to find this young man, and they weren't giving up till they found him. Our initial firefighters and three police officers did a great job. The visibility was about a foot," he said.
"It's cold water ... people have been in conditions like that before and have survived," he noted.
Sharpner's Pond is marked with a "No Swimming" sign, but police said the warning is frequently ignored. The pond, referred to as "The Pit" by some, was once a popular dumping ground for stolen cars.
The pond was originally used as an area cleared by the government to house the Sentinel Anti-Ballistic Missile radar system in 1969, but when local opposition killed the project, it was filled with water.
"It's a place where people should not be swimming at all. It's not a pond. It's mud hole made from ground water and rain water," McEvoy said.
McEvoy recalled at least "three or four drownings" in the pond during his 30-year career.
"We don't want people out there swimming because we don't want people dead," McEvoy said.
Stanley had similar sentiments, noting the area is the backdrop for constant problems.
"And we aggressively patrol that area. But we can't be there 24-7," Stanley said.
