First responders made a river rescue early Sunday morning, Jan. 2.

Barrington Police received a call for a person drowning in the Palmer River at about 5:45 a.m. Within minutes, firefighters and police officers were on the scene. 

Police said two East Providence residents — a 42-year-old man and a 24-year-old man — had gone duck hunting early Sunday morning, but ran into some trouble when they tried to navigate their boat under the Warren River Bridge into the Palmer River. The area is notorious for having strong currents.

The boat capsized, police said, dumping both men into the frigid water. The 42-year-old was able to swim to shore, scrambling onto dry land near Hampden Street. But the 24-year-old was struggling to reach the shoreline. Police said the Barrington Fire Department launched the Marine 1 rescue boat and firefighters were able to pull the 24-year-old onto the boat. 

EMTs treated both men on scene and neither had to be transported to a hospital, police said. 

While the rescue was a success, police are now asking for the public’s help in recovering two shotguns that went missing during the incident. Police said the guns had been kept in cases that float, but officials were unable to track them down following the rescue.

Anyone who locates the shotguns is asked to call Barrington Police at 437-3930.