A Farmington man drowned Tuesday afternoon in Wilson Lake in Wilton despite the attempts of fellow boaters to save him, according to the Maine Warden Service.

Game wardens, police and firefighters responded to the scene of the drowning after it was reported at 4:36 p.m., according to Cpl. John MacDonald of the Warden Service.

The victim, Jeffrey Mitchell, 63, had been pulled from the water by nearby boaters before rescue workers arrived.

Mitchell had been boating with a friend, Martha Martin, of Wilton, with plans to go swimming, said MacDonald. He dove from his pontoon boat into the water and resurfaced struggling. Martin attempted to help Mitchell to the boat but was not able to.

Two people kayaking nearby on the lake and another boater helped Martin get Mitchell to a boat landing where they met medical workers. Mitchell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Flotation devices were in Mitchell’s pontoon boat, but he was not wearing one at the time he went into the water, said MacDonald.

The incident remains under investigation.


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