Two people have presumably drowned on Messalonskee Lake in Belgrade, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife officials said Monday.
Four men were jumping off of a pontoon boat in Messalonskee Lake near Greely Island when a strong gust of wind pushed the pontoon boat away from the swimmers, according to DIF&W spokesperson Mark Latti.
Two of the swimmers were able to swim back to the boat, but the other two — Brandon Breton, 21, of Vasselboro, and Joseph Mayo, 19, of Rome — went under and never resurfaced, he said.
Wardens are searching an 80-acre portion of the lake and plan to use sidescan sonar during a nighttime search, he said. The Sidney Boat Launch will be closed until further notice as it is being used as a command center for the Maine Warden Service and rescue personnel.
The news follows the death of Abiodun Jerry, 38, of South Portland, on Sunday after he fell into the Saco River in Buxton.
A witness reported she did not believe Jerry knew how to swim. She said he went under water and had not resurfaced for about five minutes.