SQUARE LAKE TWP, Maine — The Maine Warden Service has identified the four men from Fort Fairfield involved in a fatal fishing outing Tuesday afternoon on Square Lake.
Only one of the four men, 23-year old Charles Guimond, was found alive at daybreak Wednesday, hours after the boat they were in capsized in high winds on the lake.
A warden plane spotted the body of Martin Chambers, 56, Wednesday afternoon and it was recovered from shallow water between Salmon Point and Goddard Cove on the lake’s southeastern shore.
The two still missing men, who are presumed dead, are Eric Sherwood, 43, and Mark Chambers, 51. Martin and Mark Chambers are brothers.
The four men had planned to fish the thoroughfare between Square Lake and Eagle Lake when at about 4 p.m. Tuesday their 12-foot boat with motor started taking on water and capsized in very windy conditions, Cpl. John MacDonald of the warden service reported in a press release issued Wednesday afternoon.
All four clung to the boat until dark, but Guimond, who was the only one wearing a lifejacket, was able to hang on until it drifted to shore where he was spotted by a warden plane at about 5 a.m. Wednesday.
The plane had started searching the area after someone from the camp where the men were staying on Square Lake had contacted the warden service at about 2 a.m.
Wardens planned to continue the search by air and water for the two missing men but do not believe they survived the cold water temperatures.
Water surface temperatures were near 58 degrees on Wednesday and waves were nearly four feet high in strong winds, according to MacDonald.
The three deaths would bring the total to 10 boating related fatalities this year, he said.
“Maine’s waterways remain dangerously cold and those who recreate on the water are strongly encouraged to wear a lifejacket,” the warden press release states.
Writer Elizabeth Theriault of the Fiddlehead Focus contributed to this report.
-
- Members of the Maine Warden Service search Wednesday afternoon for three individuals missing after their boat capsized on Square Lake Tuesday afternoon. (Liz Theriault)
-
- The Maine Warden Service used this plane and several boats, including this one Wednesday in their search for three men who went missing after their boat capsized Tuesday afternoon. (Liz Theriault)
-
- A game warden holds up the life jacket worn by the only one of four men found alive after their boat capsized on Square Lake Tuesday afternoon. Divers located one body Wednesday afternoon and continued their search for the other two missing men. (Liz Theriault)
