First responders searching Beaver Brook for Nashua resident John Coutu, who fell in and drowned on the morning of May 11. Courtesy photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS

HUDSON – Days of heavy rain turned Beaver Brook into a death trap, recently taking the life of Nashua resident John Coutu.

According to the State Police Marine Patrol, first responders were dispatched to Sullivan Road in Hudson at 9:25 a.m. on May 11. State Police were assisted by police, firefighters and EMS from Hudson, Windham, Pelham, Derry, Nashua and Londonderry.

Coutu, 65, was shore fishing with a friend, who was only identified as Bruce. He told police that Coutu went upstream to find a different fishing spot and fell in the swiftly moving brook. Bruce ran back to his truck to grab a rope in an attempt to rescue Coutu; however, his friend was already out of reach.

Coutu was located less than an hour later. Firefighters worked feverishly to revive him before pronouncing him dead 20 minutes later.

“When it happened it was quick,” Bruce said during an interview with WMUR. “I tried, I ran down there, I kept saying, ‘grab the trees.’ He was a good guy. I really miss him, God bless him, I’m sorry I couldn’t do much more.”

Hudson Fire Capt. Sean Mamone said up to nine inches of rain had fallen across Southern New Hampshire since the beginning of May. He also said that despite air temperatures being in the 60s and 70s, water temperatures are still in the 40s and 50s this time of year.

Although the incident remains under investigation, police believe that this was an accidental drowning.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Marine Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Haroutunian at 603-227-2112 or at Nicholas.M.Haroutunian@DOS.NH.GOV.