A woman walking in Manchester-by-the-Sea became lost after dark on Nov. 12 and got stuck waist‑deep in a swamp near Route 128 South. Her 911 call provided GPS coordinates and a What3Words address ("jockey-examples-state"), allowing responders to pinpoint her location. Police guided fire crews to a safe access point, and the woman was rescued without further incident. The fire department credited teamwork, communication and modern location technology for the swift rescue.
Lost After Dark: Woman Rescued Waist‑Deep in Massachusetts Swamp Using What3Words
A woman walking in Manchester-by-the-Sea became lost after dark on Nov. 12 and got stuck waist‑deep in a swamp near Route 128 South. Her 911 call provided GPS coordinates and a What3Words address ("jockey-examples-state"), allowing responders to pinpoint her location. Police guided fire crews to a safe access point, and the woman was rescued without further incident. The fire department credited teamwork, communication and modern location technology for the swift rescue.
05:37 PM, 11/19/2025Society
On the evening of Nov. 12, a woman who went out for a walk in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, became disoriented after darkness fell and ended up waist‑deep in a nearby swamp off Route 128 South.
She was able to call 911, and the emergency call supplied GPS coordinates. The rapid S.O.S. lookup provided a What3Words three‑word address — "jockey-examples-state" — which pinpoints locations to 3-by-3‑meter squares (about 10-by-10 feet). Fire Chief James McNeilly said the combination of the phone call, GPS data and the three-word location helped responders find her far more quickly than a broad search would have.
Police officers guided fire crews through the marsh to the safest approach, and responders reached the woman and extracted her without further incident. Social media photos shared by the Manchester by the Sea Fire Department show a woman in a blue coat standing in waist‑deep water while a first responder wades toward her.
The department praised the coordinated response and emphasized that teamwork, clear communication and modern location technology were key to the successful outcome. Officials did not immediately provide additional comment.
Safety reminder: When walking after dark, carry a charged phone, bring a light, tell someone your route, and consider sharing your live location to speed help if you become lost.