Two Maine men drown after wind pushes boat from them while swimming

Maine Warden Service personnel check on the sonar equipment being used in the search for the two bodies. (Courtesy photo)

SIDNEY, Maine - The Maine Warden Service is currently searching for the bodies of two men who drowned on Messalonskee Lake earlier on Monday.

The Maine Warden Service dive team is using sidescan sonar and divers in the search for Brandon Breton, 21, of Vassalboro, and Joseph Mayo, 19 of Rome.

The two were swimming with two other male friends off of a pontoon boat at the southern end of Messalonskee Lake near Greely Island. A strong gust of wind pushed the pontoon boat away from the group. Two of the men were able to swim to the drifting boat, but Breton and Mayo went under and never resurfaced.

Game wardens are currently searching an 80-acre area of the 3,500 acre lake and were planning to search into the night on Monday using the sidescan sonar.

Earlier Monday, game wardens were searching the water by boat and by plane for the two missing swimmers. Also assisting in the search was a Maine Forest Service helicopter, and the Belgrade, Sidney and Oakland Fire Departments.

The Sidney Boat Launch will be closed to the public until further notice, as it is being used as the command center for the Maine Warden Service and other rescue personnel.

This release will be updated as new information becomes available.