Elderly Maine Man Drowns After Boat Capsizes While Checking Bait Traps
Maine game wardens are urging all boaters, recreational and otherwise, to consider wearing their life jackets when headed out on the water. This message comes on the heels of an elderly man's death in Washington County on Tuesday.
According to WGME 13, an elderly man from Perry, Maine, drowned on Tuesday afternoon following the capsizing of his small boat.
The man, Lindon Rockwell, was out in his boat on Maine's fairly remote East Pike Brook Pond. His boat, only 12 feet long, capsized after he leaned over to check one of his baitfish traps, WGME reported.
The boat flipped over sendign Rockwell into the water. Unfortunately, he wasn't wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. Rockwell did have a couple of friends on shore who saw the events unfold, though sadly they were nearly 400 yards away and didn't have another boat to use to get to him for rescue.
Instead, the friends on shore called 911 and waited for rescuers, however by the time they arrived it was too late. Rockwell had passed away in the water.
Rescuers were able to recover Rockwell's body at about 2:30 on Tuesday afternoon. Wardens told reporters that though Rockwell wasn't wearing a life jacket at the time of the capsizing, one was located floating near the boat. Additionally, there was another life jacket stuffed inside the bow compartment of the small boat, WGME reports.
Maine Warden, Joe McBrine, told reporters in a statement,
“Inland waters are still extremely cold this time of year, and hypothermia can set in quickly. Wearing a lifejacket can save your life if you find yourself in the water unexpectedly.”