Man drowns in Mad River in Moretown

June 13, 2024 | By Waterbury Roundabout

Vermont State Police say a 34-year-old man from Barre drowned on Wednesday while swimming in the Mad River in Moretown. 

The incident happened just before 5:30 p.m. at the Big Rock swimming hole at the Kenneth Ward Park along Vermont Route 100B. 

Troopers from the Berlin barracks responded to learn from witnesses that Anthony Goddard, age 34 from Barre, was in the river with his daughter and attempted to swim across the river with the child on his back. Goddard struggled and went underwater and did not resurface, police said.

“Several bystanders entered the water and were able to bring the child to shore safely but were unable to locate Goddard,” Sgt. Mathew Nadeau said in the report. 

A state trooper located Goddard and pulled him from the river. Police attempted life-saving measures but were unable to resuscitate him. Goddard was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.  

Detectives from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations were called and their preliminary investigation found no indication of foul play, police said. Goddard's body was taken to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.