A 29-year-old Biddeford man drowned Wednesday evening, July 1, after the kayak he was paddling overturned near the shore of Sabattus Pond. The incident occurred at approximately 7:50 p.m. at Martin’s Point Park.
Mateo Franco Cifuentes was paddling near the shoreline when his kayak tipped, throwing him into the water. Cifuentes did not know how to swim and was not wearing a personal flotation device. Friends in another kayak and several bystanders attempted to rescue him and get him to shore, but were unable to do so. Cifuentes submerged beneath the surface. A bystander dove into the water and located his body several minutes later.
Witnesses called 911, and emergency medical personnel performed CPR on shore for approximately 45 minutes. Despite their efforts, Cifuentes was pronounced dead at the scene.
As a watercraft-related fatality, the Maine Warden Service is leading the investigation. The Sabattus Police Department responded to assist, along with United Ambulance Service and the Sabattus Fire Department, which aided in the rescue and resuscitation attempts.
No further details about the cause of the kayak overturning have been released.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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