Tributes have been paid to this Irish woman after she drowned when she fell through ice on a frozen lake in New Hampshire after a spate of wintery weather. Emer Mezzetti, who was born in Dublin, was just 30 metres from safety when the tragedy happened in the town of Atkinson, around 40kms north of Boston, on Friday.
The body of the 56-year-old grandmother was found by specialist divers on Sunday. Witnesses said Mrs Mezzetti fell through the ice as she was walking on the frozen lake, known as the Big Island Pond, near her home in Atkinson – and could be heard screaming for help before she disappeared under the water.
Emergency services mounted a major search for her on Friday and her body was recovered on Sunday.
New Hampshire State Police say Ms Mezzetti fell through the ice at around 5.30pm local time on Friday. And they say divers from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department found her body at around 10am on Sunday.
She could be heard screaming for help before she disappeared under the water
Mrs Mezzetti was born in Dublin, but moved to America at an early age. She first lived Newtown near Boston, before settling in Atkinson. She worked in local government. Her daughter Shannon McNeil has described her as a proud Irish woman.
She said: “She was a beautiful and vivacious woman who loved her children…and her four grandchildren more than anything. She was a proud Irish immigrant, born in Dublin and raised in Newton, Massachusetts with her four siblings.
“Every single person who knew her light, loved her, and she brought life into every room she walked through. This world was lucky to have her light, ambition, and adventurous spirit, and we are absolutely broken over the loss of her.”
Mrs Mezzetti was born in Dublin, but moved to America at an early age
(Image: FACEBOOK)
And another daughter, Devin, paid an emotional tribute to her on Monday on social media. She wrote on her Facebook page: “Please, please, please be safe. My Mother would want all of you to be careful, I know that we are all thankful for everyone that tried their best to save her.
“Thank you to everyone that has reached out and showed us how truly loved she is by all that have met her. She was the heart and soul of our family. Please tell your family you love them and cherish every moment you have with them.”
Witnesses who heard Mrs Mezzetti screaming for help alerted the emergency services who started scouring the area for her.
Local police commander Lieutenant Adam Cheney said Mrs Mezzetti had been walking over hidden springs that can weaken the ice.
He told NBC Boston: “I wouldn’t be out on that ice on that pond. I know our airboat went out on that pond and the ice was never able to support our air boat.”