FRYEBURG — Police are warning people recreating on the Saco River this summer to plan ahead.

Police Chief Joshua Potvin said a 22-year-old Massachusetts resident was rescued from a beach at the Fiddlehead Campground after he got lost canoeing on the river Tuesday night. 

Potvin said the man called 911 at about 9 p.m. and told the dispatcher he was lost somewhere on the Saco River and his phone was almost dead. Dispatch lost contact with the caller but was able to plot his call on the Saco River. 

Fryeburg police responded to the area along with Fiddlehead Campground staff, based on the location of the call. Officers located the man on a beach about 45 minutes after his original call. 

Potvin said the man was boating during daylight hours and missed his launch site in the night. He said the man, who was not staying at the campground, was shaken up but otherwise fine. 

Police, who regularly train for water rescues, are asking boaters to plan ahead and let friends and family know their plans while on the Saco River this season in order to avoid problems.

“Fryeburg police is responsible for 18 miles of the Saco River, and our busy tourist season kicks off this weekend,” Potvin said in a statement Wednesday morning. “We welcome the thousands of recreational canoers and campers who come to Fryeburg to enjoy the river each season and want to remind them to plan accordingly for the rapidly changing conditions of the river. The Saco River Recreational Council is an excellent resource for safety planning and up-to-date river conditions.”

ccrosby@sunmediagroup.net 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.