Billerica firefighters found a paddler stuck in the dark

Marie Morinico has taken her paddleboat out on the Concord River from her home in Billerica for more than 60 years, WHDH reported. On Tuesday she went farther than she usually does. "Went a lot further than I normally go, because it was such a beautiful day," she said. She said she had not considered daylight saving time, and darkness came sooner than she expected.

About two hours later, the rudder broke. The 83-year-old ended up stuck in a bog about three miles upstream, in Concord. "When I ended up in Concord in a bog, I knew at this point 'I am in trouble,'" she said. Her husband had been talking with her on the phone. She agreed that he should call the police, and he did.

The Billerica Fire Department searched the water, and the Massachusetts State Police launched a helicopter. Crews spotted her in the dark. A firefighter in a protective suit went into the water and helped her into a boat. She said her feet got cold. She had taken her shoes and socks off when she set out. She was thankful for the rescue, and she said the boat is ready to go out again.