Belmont teen thought he was going to die along Acadia’s shore

8/27/09 | 39 comments

Belmont teen thought he was going to die along Acadia’s shore

By Abigail Curtis
BDN Staff

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JOHN CLARKE RUSS

Recovering at home in Belmont on Wednesday, Anthony Allen, 17, and his mother, Bonnie Clark, reflect on Allen’s experience of being swept into the ocean by a large wave at Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park on Sunday. Buy Photo

BELMONT, Maine — It began as an exhilarating day at Acadia National Park for four Belfast-area youngsters who wanted to watch the powerful waves stirred up by Hurricane Bill.

Anthony Allen, 17, his 16-year-old girlfriend Kaliegh Walko of Morrill, his younger brother Greg Clark, 14, Greg’s friend Simone Pelletier, 12, of Belfast, and Anthony’s parents had driven Sunday morning to join the estimated 10,000 onlookers at or near Thunder Hole in the park.

“The waves were white, very white, like rapids almost, and as soon as one got done crashing, another would come in,” Anthony said Wednesday at his home in Belmont where he’s recuperating from injuries he suffered that day. He said he had never seen anything like it at Thunder Hole before.

He said that the whole group found a perch on the rocks above the Thunder Hole viewing platform, but after a few minutes the teenagers and Simone wandered further to the south, about a football field’s length away from Thunder Hole, and found a rock to sit on and watch the show. They were 60 feet back from the cliff edge and 20 feet above the ocean, he figured. A safe spot.

“The waves would come and hit the cliff we were on, and the mist would come up,” Anthony said. “It was really nice.”

And then disaster rolled in.

“I saw the wave, and you could definitely tell it was bigger,” Anthony said. “We started backing up. We turned around towards the woods, and it was right there. I got hit.”

The Belfast Area High School senior was knocked off his feet and suddenly was under the churning green ocean along with Kaliegh, Greg and Simone. The force of the water dragged him down and rolled him along the rocks on the ocean bottom. It ripped off his shoes, shorts, hat, necklace and a sock, and pulled his boxer shorts around his ankles.

“I pretty much thought I was going to die,” Anthony said.

Then he surfaced just long enough to grab a breath of air. He went down again and had the bad feeling that he was being sucked out to sea. Then the waves coughed him back onto the cliff face, where he was dazed, badly banged up, and just feet away from Kaliegh. Greg had been pinned by a rock but was able to extricate himself. Paramedics soon arrived to take care of them and others who had been injured by the wave.

But the ordeal wasn’t over yet for Simone, Clio Axilrod, 7, or her father Peter J. Axilrod, 55, of New York City, who had all been swept out to sea.

The Axilrods also had been on the rock watching the waves, Anthony said, though a spokesman for Peter Axilrod’s New York company said Wednesday that the family had been concerned about the danger and had started walking to higher ground.

“Their backs were actually to the wave,” said Stuart Goldstein, head of corporate communications for Depository Trust & Clearing Corp., where Peter Axilrod is managing director for business development. “They were trying to move to safety.”

While Simone and Peter Axilrod were rescued after more than an hour in the 55-degree water, Clio drowned, her body found by the U.S. Coast Guard three hours later about a mile offshore.

The rescue

The Coast Guard response vessel from Southwest Harbor took a wild, seasick ride as its crew searched for the three people in the ocean. The five crewmen aboard wore helmets and were attached to the boat with heavy-weather belts, said Chief Ed Iverson of Coast Guard Station Southwest Harbor.

Iverson, the coxswain, said that it was “definitely amazing” that Simone and Peter Axilrod were still treading water given the tough conditions. The two were not found together and both were badly bruised and injured from their fall off the rocks. Peter Axilrod also had had heart surgery two months ago, Iverson said.

“It was the will to live, survival instinct and swimming” that saved the two, Iverson said.

When the boat pulled alongside Simone — who was valiantly treading water even though she barely had her head above the waves — crew members were able to reach over and haul her on deck, he said.

“As soon as she got on board she started shutting down, whether it was from shock or hypothermia,” he said.

Though Peter Axilrod was in extreme pain from a fractured arm and dislocated shoulder, he was able to grab a life ring that Coast Guard crews tossed into the ocean.

According to Iverson, Peter Axilrod didn’t know what had happened to his daughter or his wife, Sandra M. Kuhach, who also was injured by the wave.

Clio’s body was found later with the help of the Coast Guard helicopter’s heat-imagery system. Currents had pushed her closer to Otter Cliffs about a half-mile south of Thunder Hole.

“When we picked her up, she had no vitals,” Iverson said. “But crew members conducted CPR on her until she got to the hospital.”

He said that the 12- to 15-foot waves, with every third or fourth set stretching as high as 20 feet, were “extreme” for Maine, and that they got even bigger once they reached closer to shore. The Coast Guard crew at Southwest Harbor has trained for heavy-weather rescues, Iverson said, but encouraged people to stay off the rocks whenever the waves crash in.

“You never know,” he said. “Especially this coming weekend. It looks like we’ll have another tropical storm coming this way.”

On shore

On Wednesday, Bonnie Clark, Anthony and Greg’s mother, clutched a coffee cup on the deck of her Belmont home and spoke with somber emotion about the events of Sunday. She said that she is grateful to the ambulance crew, employees of Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor and to all the bystanders who reached out to help the injured.

And though the hour during which Simone’s fate was unknown “just felt like forever,” when the family heard she had been rescued it was like the sun had come out.

“We all just cried from relief that she was there, alive,” Clark said. “We’re just in awe that she held on out there.”

Simone’s father, Scott Pelletier of Belfast, said that she is home now and “feeling as good as can be expected.” She did not suffer a broken leg, as had been previously reported, but is recuperating from her scrapes and bruises.

“You can sum it up as being a miracle,” Pelletier said.

He and Clark both expressed their sorrow for the death of Clio Axilrod and their desire to be respectful of her family at a difficult time.

Though Goldstein said that he had heard Peter Axilrod was still hospitalized at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, a hospital spokesperson said that at the family’s request no information was being released.

Clark said she is dismayed by some things she has read in online blogs about how those who visited Thunder Hole that day were irresponsible.

“It was very hurtful,” she said. “My kids had grown up around the ocean. They understood what waves can do.”

Rangers walked by their group several times, Clark said, and the kids were never asked to move back.

“The rangers were not to blame for anything,” she said quickly.

Anthony said though his underwater ordeal lasted only about a minute, he thinks the effects of his close call will remain with him for a long, long time.

“It seems like life’s too short,” he said. “And after going through that, I want to make something of it.”

Stories

Witnesses recount MDI wave tragedy

Three swept out to sea at Thunder Hole

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39 comments on this item

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On 8/26/09 at 10:55 PM, captainandy wrote:

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Good Story, Abigail.

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On 8/26/09 at 11:03 PM, begformercy wrote:

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Hey, Einstein...fresh storm headed to Maine, possibly this weekend.

Stay away from Thunder Hole!!!

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On 8/27/09 at 12:17 AM, AMomsOpinion wrote:

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He was lucky

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On 8/27/09 at 1:16 AM, ryanrrobbins wrote:

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"Clark said she is dismayed by some things she has read in online blogs about how those who visited Thunder Hole that day were irresponsible.

“'It was very hurtful,' she said. 'My kids had grown up around the ocean. They understood what waves can do.'”

Apparently not.

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On 8/27/09 at 1:56 AM, angela wrote:

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Interesting how now we learn the rangers did not tell them to move back, contrary to what the rangers told the media earlier.. Not surprised.

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On 8/27/09 at 2:36 AM, Cre8RoyalPalm wrote:

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Something is coming out of this incident. I'll bet it is spelled, "Legal Protocol". Too many conflicting stories now surfacing. The story is reaching not only national US news, but it is all over the world at this time. From business telephone calls I'm having to make, and mentioning the incident within the phone calls, people tell me they saw the story on international news and are discussing it. This episode is not over with.

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On 8/27/09 at 5:34 AM, mainemcq6 wrote:

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Have lived in Maine all my life and placed myself; and others; in this type of situation before, never realizing the power of a rogue wave. Won't do it again!

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On 8/27/09 at 6:14 AM, Lobstarok wrote:

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angela-there were over 10 people that were not just telling them to move back-they were screaming.

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On 8/27/09 at 6:18 AM, freedomlover wrote:

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I might have been there. When my children were young, watching the surf at the cliffs around Thunder Hole from storms at sea was a favorite thing to do, especially on a sunny Sunday. I'm sorry for the Axilrod family in the loss of their daughter.

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On 8/27/09 at 6:26 AM, know_it_all wrote:

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DING DING DING. Finally! Whew. It took how many days to finally blame the rangers? Winner winner chicken dinner. What an irresponsible fool. The first ranger that asked someone to please move back would have the been the headline as a JETK if not for this horrible tragedy. Take some responsibilty, blame yourself for your own stupidit, and move on.

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On 8/27/09 at 6:27 AM, know_it_all wrote: Click here to view hidden comment

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On 8/27/09 at 7:15 AM, Jeffrey wrote:

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I do find it curious that a few people seem to almost have an instinct to blame the Park Rangers for supposedly not telling the people on the cliff to get back. I was at Schoodic that day and the Rangers there were being very proactive in trying to discourage people from getting too close, but some people sort of semi ignored the Rangers or moved away until the Rangers turned their back to warn off other people, then moved closer to the ocean again. The Rangers can't be everywhere at once and baby sit everybody all along the ocean. Each adult person is responsible for themselves and their children. The Rangers were out in force and doing their best to save people from their own bad judgment and/or arrogance and if a small percentage of these people who either lacked the necessary experience/judgment around the ocean, or simply thought they were bulletproof, happened to get hurt, it's their own fault, not the Park Rangers.

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On 8/27/09 at 8:54 AM, PGOME1 wrote:

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Here's a question - what good is it to blame anyone? This was a very unfortunate accident and a family lost a child. How about everyone just learn from this experience and stop feeling like we have a right to be judge & jury.

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On 8/27/09 at 9:22 AM, PabMainer wrote:

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PGOME1 good comment and agree this was a tragic accident and obviously very unfortunate for the victims but IMHO this is nothing to "blame" on anyone....how many times has anyone of us walked to the edge to have a look, climbed a little higher to get a better view, pushed the envelope so to speak to try and go faster or get more of a thrill....as noted in this story those "caught up" in this happening feared for their lives, people were injured and one little soul lost her life....hindsight is always 20/20 but when we all look back at times when we went a little to far just be thankful that tragedy did not befall on you and pray for these involved esp. the family that suffered this terrible loss.....:(

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On 8/27/09 at 9:29 AM, Bobby54 wrote:

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Well said !!! You can't blame anyone for nature's ordeal, we can only learn for what might happen.

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On 8/27/09 at 9:37 AM, vchapes wrote: Click here to view hidden comment

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On 8/27/09 at 10:05 AM, PGOME1 wrote:

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PabMainer - absolutely - we are all human and make bad judgement calls and at the time, we don't think anything could possible happen to us... and then we find out differently. I don't think anyone is to blame - since I can't imagine there was some ranger saying "I hope something happens - that will teach them..." And as some has said before, this could have easily been me or friends and family of mine - so sad. My condolences to the family of the little girl and my prayers & thoughts to all involved.

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On 8/27/09 at 10:20 AM, HRH419 wrote:

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Pab,Bobby and PGOME: I agree with you all.

There called accidents for a reason.

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On 8/27/09 at 10:23 AM, Dontbeignorant wrote:

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Poeple are always trying to find blame in life. I'll be spending my energy wishing the victims get the strength they need to carry on. Everyone involved in this situation has learned something and things will change as a result.

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On 8/27/09 at 11:12 AM, OtherMainah wrote:

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And, the BDN sinks to the level of Reality Show Television -- front page, above the fold, big color photo -- celebrating someone doing something insanely stupid. This seems a good enough reason to explain the fall of print journalist!

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On 8/27/09 at 11:56 AM, RogerNamVet wrote:

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I agree with PG....there is SO MUCH BLAMING on this web site. So much anger, and WHO DONE THEM WRONG kind of comments. They call it a Rogue Wave, because that's what it is. They also sink large ships. A rogue is just that, and we are all susceptible to the rogue behavior of nature, no matter how careful we are.

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On 8/27/09 at 12:14 PM, WickedGood wrote:

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you are all right...does the ocean feel guilty.......? We live and we learn...at least....some of us....and I am still learning...

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On 8/27/09 at 12:57 PM, TheMaineLady wrote:

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Adults should know better. Kids are daredevils. Irresponsible people who hopefully learned a lesson.

The ocean doesn't give second chances. Learn it!

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On 8/27/09 at 1:00 PM, mainejeff wrote:

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I can see it now.......asteroids heading for Earth........who shall we BLAME?!?!?!?

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On 8/27/09 at 1:32 PM, vchapes wrote:

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Uhhh Global warming... blame the weather men! DUH! jk. I was't blaming anyone at all in my previous post, just saying they seemed to contradict each other... Glad theyre ok,

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On 8/27/09 at 2:36 PM, boogyman wrote:

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"Everyone involved in this situation has learned something and things will change as a result."

Yes probably what will change is people will have less access to the park. Anytime there is the slightest chance of higher than normal surf, they will close the park loop road, and they will be forced to put up more permanent barricdes which will take away from the natural beauty of Acadia, yet still more will die in time anyway. Usually anytime the Government gets involved in trying to save individuals from themselves, they will only succeed in taking more individual rights away.

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On 8/27/09 at 4:12 PM, begformercy wrote:

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Hey, Einstein...fresh storm headed to Maine, possibly this weekend.

Stay away from Thunder Hole!!!

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On 8/27/09 at 6:01 PM, deerisle wrote:

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I cannot believe how cynical people are about the rangers. As if they weren't doing anything and didn't care what happened. Get a life, you must be an ambulance chaser type.

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On 8/27/09 at 6:46 PM, wanda9101 wrote:

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Amen! PGOME1

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On 8/27/09 at 7:08 PM, rhlandesman wrote:

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for the record, and on blogs no one cares about the truth, the incident happened about 100 yards east of thunder hole on a ledge that is quite close to the water even at high tide. agree that few take personal responsibility and that it usually takes a tragedy to make us aware of how danger can raise it's ugly head at any time and when one least expects it....take care....

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On 8/28/09 at 11:09 AM, vchapes wrote:

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I have to post this... look at the picture of the wave!!!!

http://www.waldo.villagesoup.com/Community/story.cfm?storyID=174007

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On 8/28/09 at 11:30 AM, Amanda1982 wrote:

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Some people who post on here can be pretty heartless and say things without thinking that the families of these victims do read the posts. As I said before, none of this was anyones fault. Who expected a 20ft wave to come up and hit that hard. I was on my way to Bar Harbor that day and we were running late, we were also interested in seeing Thunderhole during the storm, as we have been there on many other occasions. We stopped at a convenience store in Trenton and was informed of the roads being blocked on Acadia and decided it best to turn around and go home. I just stop and think, what if we had gone that day a few hours before like we were going to. I had my 3 yr old and 7 yr old with me. God only knows if we would of gone that close if we would of made it out alive. Again, God Bless the family of little Clio....it was never your fault...

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On 8/28/09 at 11:33 AM, Amanda1982 wrote:

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Nice pic Vchapes, but that was the wave of 1989...

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On 8/28/09 at 11:42 AM, hokydad wrote: Click here to view hidden comment

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On 8/28/09 at 12:43 PM, vchapes wrote:

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Yeah. But it's a big wave was what i was getting at!

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On 8/28/09 at 1:44 PM, carlshedderly wrote:

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Hokydad,I dont think that was called for.No one insinuated or tried to minimize the pain of the deceased..Nasty nasty.

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On 8/28/09 at 2:15 PM, ydnar723 wrote:

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Pop quiz: A hurricane is on the way what do you do?

A. Go near it (such as along an ocean side where high winds are produced which equals high waves)

B. Prepare for it

C. Nothing

Apparently thousands of people thought the answer was A. Who is to blame? There were signs of a potential rouge wave people. When you see waves crashing up at heights of an already esitmated 10 plus feet you don't stick around near it. You know how much video is out there where waves were crashing near people taller then them and they still stood there?

We are not talking about a Tsunami or a tornado that developed in seconds. This was known for a while, it was on TV, and I bet there will be even more idiots running to the shorelines again getting as close to the water as possible with this next system.

Sure people got injured, and one life was lost this was clearly not an unexpected event. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.

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On 8/28/09 at 7:47 PM, Joshua wrote:

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mainejeff: God, probably.....

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On 8/29/09 at 6:40 AM, monroe wrote:

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For these people that were at Acadia, especially the local people, at least they weren't sitting in front of their X boxes playing video games or worse, typing dumb " Einstein" comments about the folks that were there or worse yet, blaming the rangers...it was a rogue wave and people get hurt or die in the outdoors, but, rarely.

People that are sitting at their computers calling these folks names have to contend with heart disease, diabetes, atv and snowmobile crashes, the diseases of the "sitters", and no one will call them out for their risk.

If you're struck by lightning, is it anyone's fault? It just happens.

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