Press Releases

Contact:
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Contact: Doug Rafferty - 287-5248


June 20, 2012

Overdue Boater Found by Wardens

Chapman, Maine - Shortly before 8:00 PM last evening, game wardens initiated a search for James W. Nadeau, age 61, of Presque Isle when he failed to return from a canoe trip on Presque Isle Stream. Nadeau had been dropped off near Burnt Land Brook in T10 R3 WELS at approximately 12:00 PM yesterday and had planned to paddle to Presque Isle, a distance in excess of 15 miles. The plan was for him to be picked up at 2:00 PM.  When he failed to arrive as scheduled, family and friends searched the stream by boat. The incident was of particular concern since Nadeau is diabetic.

James Nadeau

Photo courtesy of the Maine Warden Service

Wardens Alan Dudley and Kevin Pelkey began searching at the point where Nadeau began while Wardens Ethan Buuck and Ryan Fitzpatrick started working their way upstream. The extremely low water conditions made paddling nearly impossible. The Wardens were forced to drag their canoes much of the way and paddled when they were able. At 11:14 PM, Mr. Nadeau was located by Wardens Buuck and Fitzpatrick on the stream in Chapman. Nadeau was tired but in good spirits and said he was sorry to have caused “such a fuss”. Acting Sergeant Jeff Spencer managed the incident.