MANCHESTER, NH – On Wednesday Congressman Chris Pappas shared the painful news that his nephew, Charlie Zink, was the victim of a drowning accident over the weekend.
On Sunday we tragically a lost my nephew Charlie. There are no words to describe the magnitude of the loss of this amazing 15 year old or what he meant to all who knew and loved him. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/67E5DnDHeq
— Chris Pappas (@ChrisPappasNH) June 23, 2021
The drowning happened on June 20 at Sebbins Pond in Bedford. According to a police account of the incident, Charlie was at the pond with some friends and using a rope swing to enter the water when Charlie went under and didn’t resurface. His body was recovered a few hours later in what Bedford rescuers described as about 15-feet of murky pond water.
Charlie was the son of Congressman Pappas’ sister, Alyssa Zink and husband Eric, of Bedford.
Following Pappas’ post on social media, fellow Congresswoman Annie Kuster released the following statement:
“Brad and I, along with our entire staff, were heartbroken to learn that Chris Pappas’s nephew died on Sunday. We have reached out to support Chris and his family during this tragic time. The Pappas family is beloved by our entire federal delegation and by constituents across the Granite State. We urge respect for the family’s privacy and compassion for their loss in the coming days.”
The Puritan Restaurant, owned by the Pappas Family, also released a statement on Facebook