Capella camper OK after becoming unresponsive during evening swim

DEDHAM, Maine — A male camper became unresponsive during a swim at Camp Capella on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old camper, whose name Camp Capella director Dana Mosher would not disclose, was swimming with a group of 10 other campers when he became unresponsive.

“Medically, we don’t know what happened,” Mosher said Wednesday afternoon. “He didn’t inhale any water.”

Camp staff, a nurse and a lifeguard came to the camper’s aid quickly, administering CPR, Mosher said.

“It only took a few breaths to bring him back,” Mosher said. “All the staff just did an amazing job bringing this guy back.”

Ambulance crews from Dedham and Brewer arrived on the scene quickly, Mosher said, and the camper was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Once there, the camper was alert, talking and joking with his parents as if nothing had happened, Mosher said.

Mosher praised the staff at Camp Capella for its quick response in getting the camper to safety.

“It was a positive outcome because of the professionalism here at this camp,” said Mosher.

The Maine Warden Service responded to the scene as well, but the camper had already been transported to the hospital, according to Sgt. Alan Gillis.