The body of a 59-year-old Rockland man who disappeared Sunday morning, June 14, while boating on Chickawaukie Lake was recovered by the Maine Warden Service dive team late Sunday night.
Divers located Timothy Payson in approximately 15 feet of water around 10:20pm. Payson had gone out for a boat ride earlier in the day and did not return.
The incident unfolded shortly before 8:00am, when a Rockland resident heard a man yelling for help from the water. The resident rushed down to the shoreline to assist while his wife called 911. Upon reaching the water’s edge, he observed a small Zodiac-style inflatable boat moving in circles with a dog aboard, but saw no one in the boat or in the water.
Responders from the Rockland and Rockport Fire Departments quickly arrived, boarded the still-moving vessel, and shut off the engine. Despite a thorough initial search of the area, they were unable to locate the boat’s operator.
The Maine Warden Service launched a full-scale search operation around 1:00pm, deploying divers and side-scan sonar. As darkness fell, the effort continued using sonar-equipped watercraft. Payson’s body was ultimately recovered late Monday evening.
Multiple agencies assisted in the search and recovery operation, including the Rockland and Rockport Fire Departments, Rockland and Rockport Police Departments, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Thomaston Fire Department.
No further details have been released at this time.
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