Overturned Skiff Prompts Rescue near Tenants Harbor

Tenants Harbor - The Maine Marine Patrol along with members of the St. George Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and local good Samaritans rescued an individual yesterday whose small skiff had overturned near Northern Island, which is located near the mouth of Tenants Harbor. After entering the water, the sole occupant of the skiff was able to swim ashore on the island.

The individual, who has asked not to be identified, was reported missing after failing to return from an attempt to locate parts of a private dock that had washed away during recent storms. Marine Patrol was notified after a family member called 911 at 4:45 p.m.

Marine Patrol Officers Nicholas Stilwell, Callahan Crosby, Alexandre Michaud, Nicholas Simonenko, Keegan Nelligan and Sergeant Matthew Wyman responded to the area as well as members of Knox Sherriff’s Office, St. George Fire Department, the St. George Harbor Master, local fishermen, and crews from the U.S. Coast Guard.  

A nearby resident notified St. George Fire Department members of what sounded like someone yelling from the direction of Northern Island, which helped responders locate the individual, who was conscious but unable to move, on the shore of Northern Island at approximately 5:00 p.m.

With assistance from St. George Fire Department and local volunteers, the individual was removed from the island by a Marine Patrol small boat, transferred to a waiting U.S. Coast Guard vessel and then taken to shore in Tenants Harbor where an ambulance provided transportation to a local hospital.