Body washes up on Mass. shore in front of beachgoers

SALISBURY, Mass. -- The body of a missing fisherman washed up on a Massachusetts shore Monday in front of beachgoers, CBS Boston reports.

The Essex County district attorney's office said the body found on Salisbury Beach has been identified as 44-year-old Chhoeun Chhoun, of Lowell.

Authorities said Chhoun went missing last Tuesday after his boat capsized near the mouth of the Merrimack River. The Coast Guard and several local police and fire departments attempted to locate Chhoun without success.

Joseph Ranagan told The Daily News of Newburyport on Monday that he was playing football about 15 yards from the shore when he saw what looked like a body floating a few yards away. He said he pulled the corpse back to the beach before calling for help.

Erica Hamilton, an emergency medical technician, helped Ranagan bring the body back to shore, just a few yards away from hundreds of beachgoers, The Daily News reports.

"While this is a tragic loss, it will hopefully bring some closure for Mr. Chhoun's family and friends," Salisbury Police Chief Thomas Fowler said.

A second man who was in the boat with Chhoun when it capsized swam to a jetty. Neither man was wearing a life jacket.