A Chesterville teen is in critical condition after a swimming accident Thursday on Great Pond in Rome.

Cpl. John MacDonald, of the Maine Warden Service, said in a news release that the teen, whose identity was not released, was taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta where he is in critical condition.

MacDonald said the teen, described by responders as a 16-year-old boy, was swimming with two other teenage boys near Crooked Island. The trio moored their boat near the island and tried to swim from the boat to the island, MacDonald said. One of the teens was wearing a life jacket.

“The male was swimming with two other teens near Crooked Island and went below the surface,” MacDonald said. Radio reports indicated the teen could not be found for several minutes.

The friends recovered the teen. An off-duty nurse, who happened to be in the area, performed CPR as the boy was rushed to the nearest point of land off Nickerson Lane in Rome.

The incident remains under investigation, MacDonald said.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.