BRUNSWICK, Maine — Maine Marine Patrol suspended their search Saturday afternoon for a missing man who, according to witnesses, fell from his boat into the Androscoggin River near Brunswick Friday night.
The man, Stephen Wines, 27, of Bailey Island, was aboard a small boat in the Androscoggin with his brother William, 30, of Bailey Island when eye witnesses on shore reported seeing them pass by in the water. The incident was reported to 911 at approximately 8:40 p.m.
Lifeflight of Maine and the Brunswick Fire Department conducted a search while Marine Patrol and Brunswick Police Department conducted an investigation of the incident Friday evening.
The boat has been recovered and life jackets were on board, however reports indicate that neither man was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.
According to Marine Patrol reports, William made it to shore and was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated and released.
The Marine Patrol along with the Brunswick Police Department and the State Police/Marine Patrol Dive Team continued the search Saturday morning, focusing their efforts near Bay Bridge Landing.
Volunteers in boats joined Maine Marine Patrol boats and a plane, with searchers fanning out at low tide around 11 a.m. Saturday. Maine State Police divers also searched areas of deeper water.
After all of the “high probable areas” were searched, the effort was suspended as the tide rose ahead of Sunday’s expected heavy rains.
Sgt. Mark Talbot of the Maine Marine Patrol said the search will resume as the weather allows, possibly waiting until Monday.