Two Fryeburg police officers were seriously hurt Saturday afternoon when their boat crashed while responding to a report of an overturned canoe on the Saco River.

A man was rescued from the water next to his capsized canoe but his female companion had not been found by early Sunday morning.

The two police officers, meanwhile, were taken by Lifeflight helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center. They were identified as Officer Dale Stout, 51, and Nathan Desjardins, 20.

Stout sustained serious injuries, according to a Freyburg police press release. Desjaredins’ injuries were considered potentially life threatening.

According to the release, at approximately 3:50 p.m. Saturday, Fryeburg Police received a 9-1-1 call regarding a capsized canoe near mile 8 of the Saco River. It was reported that a male and female were in the water. The male was rescued, however a 26 year old female from South Berwick was not located.

The two Fryeburg officers had responded to the rescue call by deploying a motorized police jet-boat. While enroute to rescue the missing female, the boat crashed, polie said.

Several area law enforcement agencies responded to the scene to assist. Maine Warden Service is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for the police watercraft crash as well as the missing canoeist.

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