A Florida man drowned on Friday on Damariscotta Lake in Nobleboro, officials said.

Richard Eason, 74, of Ocala, Florida, who has a summer home on the lake, had launched his boat at the Vannah Road Boat launch at around 1:45 p.m. before pulling it to shore, according to Mark Latti of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.

“While he was parking his truck, he noticed that due to the wind, his boat had drifted off the shore and was drifting towards the center of the lake,” Latti stated.

Eason entered the water and swam after the boat, which continued to drift away, according to Latti.

“Witnesses stated that after Eason swam approximately 75 yards, he went under the water and never resurfaced,” Lattie said. “Eason was not wearing a life jacket.

Eason’s body was recovered in about 15 feet of water at about 7 p.m. 

The Maine Warden Service was assisted by Nobleboro Fire and Rescue, Damariscotta Fire and Rescue and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.