Developing: Maine Wardens Searching For 3 Missing Boaters

UPDATE 5:43pm Game wardens, divers and a Warden Service aircraft have been at Square Lake all day searching for three missing boaters. Charles Guimond, 23, also from Fort Fairfield, drifted to the shore of Square Lake and was found alive at daybreak this morning by game wardens. The body of Martin Chambers, 56, from Fort Fairfield, was recovered this afternoon by game wardens. His body was located in shallow water between Salmon Point and Goddard Cove on the lakes southeastern shore.

The remaining two men have not been located but have been identified as Eric Sherwood, 43, and Mark Chambers, 51, both from Fort Fairfield. Mark Chambers and Martin Chambers are brothers. The four men were in a 12-foot boat with motor and had planned to fish the thoroughfare between Square Lake and Eagle Lake yesterday afternoon.

At approximately 4:00 PM yesterday, the boat began to take on water in very windy conditions. The men clung to the drifting boat until dark. Guimond was wearing a lifejacket and eventually made it to shore alive when he was found this morning. It is presumed the three other men were not wearing lifejackets and did not survive the cold water temperatures.

Today’s water surface temperatures are near 58 degrees and waves have been nearly four feet high in strong winds. This incident brings Maine’s boating related deaths this year to ten. Maine’s waterways remain dangerously cold and those who recreate on the water are strongly encouraged to wear a lifejacket.
Square Lake, Aroostook County, Maine – Game wardens are currently searching for three missing boaters on Square Lake, just east of Eagle Lake in Aroostook County. Four people were in a watercraft yesterday afternoon (June 13th) and apparently capsized in windy conditions. The four occupants clung to the watercraft until dark; only one was wearing a lifejacket and made it to shore alive. The three remaining people are missing and are believed to be in the water.

The Maine Warden Service Dive Team, a Warden Service aircraft and game wardens are searching the lake. More information will be provided as it becomes available.