PORTSMOUTH — Several witnesses have told Portsmouth Police that a 39-year-old woman who is now missing intentionally climbed over the deck railing of the Prudence Island Ferry Monday night and entered the water.

The search for the woman, a resident of Prudence Island, is ongoing and the incident is still under investigation, police said on Tuesday.

On Monday, Dec. 6, at about 6:30 p.m., Portsmouth Police were alerted that a female passenger had fallen into the water from the Prudence Island Ferry and was missing. The ferry had departed Bristol at 5:45 p.m. and was on its way to Prudence Island. 

The Coast Guard, Bristol, and Portsmouth worked alongside several other agencies searching the area waters for several hours. High winds, darkness, and rough seas hampered the search effort, according to police. The search was called off at about 11 p.m. Monday and resumed Tuesday at about 9 a.m.

While the search was taking place, members of the Portsmouth Police Detective Division responded to Prudence Island and interviewed the other passengers. The vessel was reportedly west of Hog Island in the vicinity of Poppasquash Point when the woman fell from the ferry. 

“Witnesses reported she was alone on the deck of vessel when the incident occurred,” Portsmouth Police stated in a press release. “From several witness accounts, it appeared that the woman intentionally climbed over the deck railing and entered the water.”