6-year-old boy missing in Massachusetts river after mother dies trying to rescue her kids

A family fishing trip to a Massachusetts river has ended in tragedy with a mother dead and her 6-year-old son missing, authorities said.

The family of six — a mother and father and their four children — were fishing from Deer Island in the Merrimack River when at about 7 p.m. Thursday, two of the children entered the water, Newburyport fire and police officials said in a statement.

The mother entered the water to get the children, and with the help of a good Samaritan boater, rescued a 7-year-old girl, authorities said.