Nick Johnson, left, Avery Boucher and Julia Horst with the Maine Warden Service complete their investigation after a man’s body was recovered following a drowning at Ellis Pond in Belgrade Wednesday. The ambulance at right is parked at the boat landing off Spaulding Point Road. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)

BELGRADE — A man who tried to retrieve a drifting boat on Ellis Pond has drowned, the Maine Warden Service has confirmed.

Robert Gary, 66, of Oakland, apparently drowned Wednesday after swimming after the boat he had launched shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Ellis Pond, which is also known as Salmon Lake.

After the 12-foot motorized aluminum boat was launched, it had started to drift away from shore and into the lake at the boat launch on Spaulding Point, Mark Latti, communications director for the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, said in a news release.

According to a witness on shore, Gary was swimming toward the boat when he went under and never resurfaced, Latti said.

Belgrade Fire and Rescue arrived first and rescue personnel were able to recover the body in about 4 feet of water, about 30 yards to 40 yards from shore. They attempted to revive him with CPR, but Gary was unresponsive and died at the scene.

Gary was taken to Wheeler Funeral Home in Oakland, and he will be examined by a state medical examiner to determine a cause of death.

Maine game wardens, Belgrade Fire and Rescue, Delta Ambulance and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office responded.

Ellis Pond is in North Belgrade and sits between Messalonskee Lake and Great Pond.