News Release

Two Water Related Life Flights in Acadia National Park on August 13

Date: August 14, 2021
Contact: Christie Anastasia, 207-288-8806

BAR HARBOR, MAINE – Two water related accidents occurred in Acadia National Park, both of which required Life Flights, on Aug 13 involving two males. 

The first accident occurred at Sand Beach. At approximately 2:48 pm a visitor swimming flagged down a lifeguard to assist an 18-year-old male in the ocean. Rangers responded with the assistance of bystanders including a trauma nurse to stabilize the patient on a backboard. The patient was then evacuated from Sand Beach up to the parking lot where a Bar Harbor Ambulance was waiting. The patient was then transferred on a Life Flight to Bangor at approximately 3:30 pm. Witnesses stated that the 18-year-old male was seen diving into a shallow area. 

The second accident occurred on the Cannon Brook Trail. At approximately 3:58 pm a 911 call reported a 6-year-old male had fallen approximately up to 50 feet into a water pool along the trail and suffered head and neck injuries. Rangers and Bar Harbor Fire Department paramedics responded to the accident. Maine Forest Service conducted a short haul to transfer the patient to a Life Flight in Bar Harbor at approximately 7 pm. The family had been swimming in the water pool and the child slid down a slope and continued into the water. Over 30 people from Acadia National Park, Friends of Acadia Summit Stewards, and Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue were involved. 

This year Acadia National Park has seen a 65 percent increase in rescues above the 2019 calendar year.     

Yesterday also brought additional 911 calls overlapping with the two water related accidents including vehicle and bicyclist conflicts and a bicycle accident involving a 13-year-old on the carriage roads.  

August 12 also required emergency attention to two overlapping search and rescues. One involving a 32-year-old female who suffered a medical emergency on Gorham Mountain at approximately 1:30 pm and another one involving a 58-year-old male with a knee injury on the South Ridge of Sargent Mountain. The Maine Forest Service attempted a short haul for the Sargent Mountain rescue but was unable to conduct the operation due to fog. This required park staff and Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue volunteers to divert resources from Gorham to Sargent to step in for a carry-out.  

The National Park Service is extremely grateful to our partnerships with the Bar Harbor Ambulance, Bar Harbor Fire Department, Maine Forest Service, Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue, Maine Life Flight, and Friends of Acadia staff. We are also grateful for the visitors who stepped in to help where they saw a need to assist in an emergency. 

No additional information is currently available.