A 13-year-old boy was rescued after becoming stranded on his paddleboard on Rangeley Lake on Tuesday, according to a statement from Rangeley Fire Rescue.
Rangeley first responders and members of the Maine Warden Service were dispatched at 1:47 p.m. to the lake at Harrington Road after the boy became stranded without a paddle.
“Weather conditions on the lake had changed rapidly, transitioning from generally calm waters to strong winds, whitecaps, and building swells within minutes,” according to the statement.
Conditions then worsened with whitecaps and 1-2 foot swells as the search got underway.
Boaters and a U.S. Border Patrol helicopter aided the search.
The boy was spotted at 2:07 p.m. and brought aboard a Rangeley Fire Rescue boat two minutes later. Officials said the boy was “cold, fatigued, and in distress clinging to the paddle board.”
“In less than 15 minutes, the juvenile had drifted approximately 1.5 miles, carried by strong winds and current toward Oquossoc,” according to the statement.
Once on shore he was transferred to emergency medical services for an evaluation.
Rangeley Fire Rescue noted that conditions on the 6,000-acre lake can change within minutes.
Rangeley Fire Rescue reminds people that, before heading into the water:
Wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket;
Carry the safety equipment, including a paddle;
Check the weather forecast before launching;
Keep a close eye on changing conditions;
Return to shore immediately if winds begin to increase or whitecaps develop.
“We are thankful this incident ended safely and encourage everyone to enjoy our lakes responsibly and always be prepared,” according to the statement.