CASCO, Maine — Five canoers needed rescuing when their canoe took on water on Parker Pond in Casco Saturday afternoon, according to the Maine Warden Service.
“There was a hole in the bottom of the canoe, but by the time they realized it the canoe was half flooded,” Game Warden Neal Wykes said.
The four women and one man abandoned the canoe and swam to a nearby island, Wykes said.
Wykes said the canoers were very lucky the situation wasn’t worse.
“They were talkative, one girl was more hypothermic than the others, but they’re all in rescue units and warming up,” Wykes said.
Wykes said the incident is a reminder to inspect a boat before taking it on the water and to check the weather.
“Pick your days, this wasn’t a good day to be out on the water. We’re having 30 mile per hour winds steady all day long,” Wykes said.