May 6, 2020

MDIFW NEWS: Game Wardens Recover Body Of Missing Angler In Estes Lake

SANFORD, Maine - After two days of searching Estes Lake, Maine Warden Service divers have recovered the body of Kenneth Ham, age 56 of Hollis. Hollis was located at approximately 10:00 a.m. through the use of a remote operated underwater vehicle or ROV, operated by game wardens. The ROV was utilized in an area largely inaccessible by boat due to rocks and shoals. Once located and confirmed by the camera on the ROV, divers were dispatched and recovered Ham.

Ham drowned after the canoe he was in with two others flipped over at approximately 4:30 Monday afternoon. Game Wardens searched with boats, divers, sonar and a ROV in an area identified by witnesses as where the canoe capsized. Ham was in the bow of the canoe and was headed out fishing with his eight-year-old son and a friend on Monday. When Ham turned around to adjust his son's life jacket, the canoe overturned, throwing all three in the water approximately 150 yards from shore.

A witness on shore called 911, and rescue personnel were able to launch a boat and rescue the 8-year-old boy who was wearing a life jacket, and Hams friend who was clinging to the canoe. They had been in the water over 35 minutes before they were rescued. Rescuers were unable to locate Ham and continued searching Monday until dark and during daylight hours on Tuesday. No more information is available at this time.

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A Game Warden Diver enters the water to search for the missing angler.