TOWNSHIP C — Two Boston males were missing Friday night hours after jumping off a pontoon boat in Lower Richardson Lake, according to the Maine Warden Service.
After six hours of searching in and around the lake, the effort was halted at about 9:30 p.m. Searchers are expected to return early Saturday to continue looking for the missing boaters, said Warden Service spokeswoman Edie Smith.
Two others on the pontoon boat did not go swimming and were accounted for Friday night, Smith said.
At 3:40 p.m., the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office called wardens to the scene to assist with the search. Andover firefighters and Med-Care Ambulance were also sent to help.
After it was learned that a LifeFlight helicopter wasn’t available to help with the search, a warden service pilot was asked to circle above the lake to try to spot the missing swimmers.
Responders staged at South Arm Campground, which is off South Arm Road in Andover.
Wardens using boats reported 3-foot swells as they searched the lake.
Lower Richardson Lake, which is north of Andover, is part of the Rangeley region chain of lakes.
According to Smith, a dive team will resume the search at about 7 a.m.
The Maine Warden Service will continue its investigation into the cause of the incident, Smith said.
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