A 13-year-old boy was rescued Tuesday afternoon after strong winds swept him nearly 1.5 miles across Rangeley Lake while he was paddleboarding.
Emergency crews were called around 1:47 p.m. after the teen became stranded without a paddle when calm conditions suddenly turned dangerous, with high winds creating whitecaps and large waves.
Firefighters, the Maine Warden Service, several civilian boaters, and a U.S. Border Patrol helicopter joined the search. About 20 minutes after the initial call, crews found the boy clinging to his paddleboard. He was cold and exhausted but was safely brought to shore and evaluated.
Officials say the teen drifted roughly 1.5 miles in less than 15 minutes as powerful winds and currents pushed him toward Oquossoc.
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