MAPLETON, Maine — The body of a Presque Isle man who went missing while attempting to swim across an Aroostook County lake at about 10:30 Friday evening was recovered Saturday afternoon.
The body of Randy Muir, 30, was located in 20 feet of water in Hanson Lake at 1:20 p.m. by warden and state police divers, according to a news release from John MacDonald, Maine Warden Service spokesman.
Muir was last seen late Friday night with a group of friends at the Hanson Lake boat launch and it appeared members of the party had been drinking and swimming, according to MacDonald’s release.
At some point Muir decided to swim across the lake by himself and, according to witness accounts, made it “a considerable distance” when the group on shore reported hearing calls for help.
The lake is approximately 250 yards wide at the boat launch and members of Muir’s group reported they could not see him in the dark.
Wardens and members of the Maine State Police conducted land, air and water searches around the lake.
The search in the water was hampered by poor visibility in the murky lake and the presence of numerous obstacles such as tree stumps, MacDonald said.
Divers were forced to swim within three feet of each other due to the conditions.
Alcohol may have contributed to the incident, MacDonald said.
Wardens and state police were assisted by members of the Presque Isle Police Department, the Presque Isle Fire Department and Crown Ambulance Services.
My beautiful sweet nephew Randy. He will be missed and I will think of you everyday. Our family has suffered an unfortunate loss in Randy. RIP my sweet nephew.
My heart goes out to you and your family. May God comfort you in your sorrow.
So very sorry for your loss.
I would like to thank the Maine Warden Service, Presque Isle Police, Maine State Police, Presque Isle Fire Department and Crown Ambulance for their efforts in recovering my nephew.
So sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace.
I am very sorry for your loss. I pray that he is at peace and that the hearts of all those that loved him will be comforted.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I would like to thank the Maine Warden Service, Presque Isle Police, Maine State Police, Presque Isle Fire Department and Crown Ambulance for their efforts in recovering my cousin. We have lost such a sweethearted, funny AWESOME person in our family..he taught me to swim when I was 5, he was like a brother to me….I cannot put into words how much I miss him or how much I love him…
So very sorry for your loss.
This is the first I’ve read of this. How can it be proper journalism to assume alcohol was involved in this tragic passing of my cousin without a confirmed toxicology report/evidence? I ask that the Bangor Daily News, and Mr MacDonald apologize for the assumption. Waiting before jumping to conclusions is a major problem with journalism of today.
I am thinking maybe the friends he was with confirmed it? I think their grief over losing their dear friend was enough to tell the truth instead of dragging it out for his loved ones sake? Just an assumption…I am so sorry for your loss and pray that you and his family and friends can find some peace…
Randy was my first cousin. We were like brothers growing up. He was full of youthful fun and was very talented at the things he was passionate about. I find it disrespectful to automatically assume without confirmed evidence that alcohol was involved or that he personally had alcohol in his systerm. It may very well be the case, but please stop the assumptions. I’m speaking to you personally Mr. Macdonald. With that said, thank you for your efforts, and the efforts of those involved in the recovery. A lot of hurt, and a missing void in our family’s hearts. I guess it’s time to go find our pictures of when we were little kids playing at our grandmother’s house.
Which cousin are you??
Your cousin Mike
Very sorry for your loss. an earlier story said that there was a group there drinking and swimming before he attempted to cross the lake. i did not know him but i feel terrible that this has happend regardless of wheather alchol was involved or not does not change the fact that a life was lost.
I found a nice picture of him, his sister and I from 1991. It’s nice to look at, only one I seem to have.
thoughts and prayers to the family….