Ipswich Police identify man who died while swimming off Crane Beach

IPSWICH, Mass. — The frigid ocean waters off Crane Beach claimed the life of an Ipswich man who went missing Friday morning, police said.

“It’s very sad,” said Judy Buono, who frequently walks the beach.

Police say the man’s body was found by the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Today at 16:55 the Coast Guard helicopter notified us that they located an unresponsive male,” said Ipswich Police Chief Paul Nikas.

Chief Nikas identified that man as 24-year-old Eric Pecina. He’d only lived in Ipswich for about a year and is originally from New Jersey.

Locals can’t believe he went into the water.

“Well, if it wasn’t so cold it wouldn’t be so bad, but this is insane,” said Buono.

The search started after a Park Ranger at Crane Beach found Pecina’s backpack about 9:30 a.m. Friday morning. That led them to his car and they were able to identify him.

Friends soon confirmed that Pecina had planned to go swimming to Plum Island about a mile off Crane Beach.

The Coast Guard was alerted calling in a plane and helicopter as well as a cutter to search in extremely rough conditions.

“So, it’s been a long day. It’s been very windy. The water’s been very choppy,” said Nikas.

The Coast Guard finally located Pecina’s body just before 5 p.m. Friday. His body was apparently carried far off by the extreme tides in the waters off Crane Beach.

“That’s really far up into the creeks. It’s probably 2 miles from where we believe he went into the water,” said Chief Nikas.

And the Chief offered a word of warning to anyone who might consider swimming this time of year.

“Again, stay out of the water. The water is 45 degrees right now. There’s no reason to be swimming now,” said Nikas.

Pecina’s family was notified and is en route from New Jersey to claim his body.

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