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Press Releases

Contact: Deborah Turcotte, Spokesperson
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Telephone: work (207) 287-6008 cell (207) 592-1164

Fax: (207) 287-6395

• Maine Wildlife Park Press Releases
• Previous Press Releases for 2008
• Previous Press Releases for 2007

March 2, 2008

Four People Ride Smowmobiles into Damariscotta Lake, Suffer Hypothermia

Nobleboro, Maine – Four friends riding three snowmobiles suffered hypothermia Saturday night when they accidentally rode the snowmobiles into Damariscotta Lake.

Two men who witnessed the accident assisted in saving the four riders. One of the men brought two of the victims into his house, put them into a bed and covered them with blankets for about an hour before they were transported to a hospital.

Megan Libby, 22, of Newcastle, her brother, Earl Libby, 19, also of Newcastle, Devon Jones, 17, of Nobleboro, and Jake Jewett, 21, of Errol, N.H., were out riding at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday on Damariscotta Lake when they hit the open water and went in.

The 7 p.m. accident happened near Fondy Road on the southern side of the lake. Miss Libby, Mr. Libby and Mr. Jewett were able to get out of the water, but Miss Jones was struggling, according to Maine Warden Service Captain Joel Wilkinson.

Witness Rick Gaeth, who lives on Fondy Road, saw the accident and called emergency services. Mr. Gaeth gave Mr. Libby a rope to use to rescue Miss Jones. Mr. Libby tied the rope to his waist, jumped into the water, swam about 100 feet and grabbed Miss Jones.

Mr. Gaeth and another witness, Chad Nickerson, pulled the rope to get the pair out of the water, according to Captain Wilkinson.

Miss Jones and Mr. Libby immediately were transported to Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta, where they were treated for severe hypothermia. They were released today.

While they were being transported to the hospital, Mr. Gaeth brought Miss Libby and Mr. Jewett into his home, put them into a bed and covered them with blankets to get them warm.

“He took care of them for an hour while the individuals with the more severe cases of hypothermia were immediately transported to the hospital,” Wilkinson said.

The accident remains under investigation. Two of the snowmobiles were unregistered.

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