A Vassalboro boy has died after he fell from a canoe in Outlet Stream Monday night, authorities said.

The boy, 5-year-old William Egold, died overnight at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, according to a news release Tuesday morning from Cpl. John MacDonald of the Maine Warden Service.

Maine Game Warden Steven Couture said Mollie Egold, 25, who lives in Vassalboro, was canoeing with her 5-year-old son when they both went into the water. They were below the intersection of Oak Grove Road and Route 32 in Vassalboro.

“The water was swift and the canoe overturned, causing both to enter the water,” MacDonald said in the Tuesday morning release.

William became trapped beneath the water against debris, according to MacDonald. His mother was able to free him from the debris and called for help, he said.

Both Egold and her son were wearing life jackets. Although neither was in the water very long, the water temperature is still very cold, Couture said.

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Law enforcement and first responders were dispatched to the stretch of the stream behind 960 Main St., shortly after 7:30 p.m. and performed life-saving measures.

Although a LifeFlight helicopter was summoned, William was taken to Inland Hospital in Waterville by ambulance shortly after 8 p.m.

Couture, warden for the Vassalboro area, said Egold was also taken to Inland Hospital. Both were suffering from hypothermia, but the boy was severely hypothermic. As of 10 p.m., Couture had said hospital staff were trying to slowly raise the boy’s temperature.

Couture said later Monday night that the boy was taken by LifeFlight from Inland to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. MacDonald said game wardens were told early Tuesday morning that William had died overnight.

The Maine Warden Service is still investigating the incident.

This story will be updated.


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