Body of towboat captain found off Wareham

WAREHAM, Mass. (WHDH) -- The body of a towboat captain was recovered off the coast of Wareham Wednesday after crews received a distress call from the captain saying his boat was taking on water.

John M. Redler, the captain of the 29-foot Towboat vessel Triple J, issued a mayday call around 1 a.m. Wednesday near the waters of the Cape Cod Canal.

“Early this morning we received a notification from the Wareham Police Department that there may be a boat in distress and so at that time we responded with a boat to assist the harbormaster,” said Chief Robert McDuffy of the Wareham Fire Department.

Sources said the 38-year-old captain, who is from Newton, but lives in Marion, had towed a boat to Barnstable overnight and was headed back to Wareham when the distress call was received.

Emergency responders said conditions were less than ideal when they were trying to locate the boat Wednesday morning.

“The Wareham Police Department was notified at 4:15 in the morning that there was a person in distress on a boat. The Wareham harbormaster was notified and shortly before 6 a.m. the boat was located,” said Lt. Kevin Walsh of the Wareham Police Department.

Investigators are looking into why the boat starting taking on water.

“When we were called to assist, the fog was banked right in here. The conditions were more than poor so it made the rescue -- very difficult conditions in order for them to function,” said McDuffy.