A 34-year old Barre man drowned Wednesday evening at the Big Rock swimming hole in Moretown, according to Vermont State Police.
Witnesses told police that the man, later identified as Anthony Goddard, was swimming in the Mad River around 5:25 p.m.Wednesday with his young daughter on his back. As he attempted to cross the river, he began to struggle before eventually going underwater, police said in a press release.
Onlookers entered the water and were able to rescue the child, but were unable to find Goddard, according to the release.
State police troopers arrived within minutes, and one trooper was able to locate Goddard and bring him to shore, according to police. However, life-saving techniques on the shore were unsuccessful and the man was pronounced dead.
A preliminary investigation concluded that there was no indication of foul play, according to police, noting that an autopsy would confirm the cause and manner of death.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Barre man drowns in Moretown while carrying child on his back.