Two boaters injured during harrowing Maine Patrol rescue mission

The runaway boat that eventually capsized endangering the lives of two Marine Patrol Officers. (Marine Patrol photo)

GILFORD - Two boaters were injured and two Marine Patrol Officers escaped a life threatening situation when their patrol boat capsized atop them during a frantic rescue mission Wednesday night.

The rescue mission unfolded around 10:25 p.m., when an E911 call came in for a person in the water on Lake Winnipesaukee, yelling for help while a boat was circling in the area nearby. The call came from the area of Round Island in the town of Gilford.

Two Marine Patrol Officers who were on patrol responded to the area and found a serious boating crash with two victims in the water. The officers were able to rescue the two victims from the water, assisting them onto the patrol boat. They were then transferred onto a Gilford Fire Department boat that also responded to the scene. At the same time, the Marine Patrol officers were able to locate an unmanned boat formerly occupied by the victims, still running and moving erratically on the lake.

Due to the dangerousness of the runaway boat, the two officers made an attempt to get the boat stopped by throwing a line into the water in its path to entangle the propeller(s) and get it to stop, or at least to slow it down so that it could not cause further injury to persons or property damage.

After the first attempt proved unsuccessful, a second attempt was made.

But while making a second attempt to stop the boat, it took an unexpected turn toward the patrol boat, striking its stern, causing it to capsize.

Both officers were thrown overboard and then momentarily pinned under the boat, which was then being dragged by the other vessel, according to a Marine Patrol statement sent out today.

Fortunately, both officers were able to escape and made it to the surface.

New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol is aware that good Samaritans, not yet identified, courageously involved themselves in the dangerous situation, both assisting Marine Patrol Officers in getting out of the water and by boarding the private vessel, that was now slowed by dragging the Marine Patrol vessel and stopping it.

Both victims from the original crash were taken to hospitals with what were described as nonlife threatening injuries. Both officers were also evaluated at the hospital as a precaution.

Marine Patrol would like to thank Gilford Fire Department, Alton Police Department, New Hampshire State Police Troops A and E, and especially the unidentified good Samaritans for their responses to and assistance with this serious call.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Lieutenant Dennis Wade at (603) 846-3333.