A 78-Year-Old Masardis Man Died While Fishing the Aroostook River

Maine Game Wardens say the body of a Masardis man who went missing while on a fishing trip has been recovered.

Reported Missing

The search for 78-year-old Donald Whipple began after he was reported missing at approximately 10:45 Monday night. Family members said he had gone fishing in the Aroostook River at around 7:00, but failed to return as planned. They looked for him and then called the wardens when they couldn't find him.

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The Search

Game Wardens quickly found his canoe, with the fishing gear still in it, pulled up on shore, but there was no sign of Whipple. The search ran through the night, with wardens looking in the river, on the riverbanks, and in the surrounding area. K9 units were brought in, but they were still unable to locate him. The search was expanded at approximately 5:00 Tuesday morning, with additional wardens called in to help, and an airboat to search the river.

The Recovery

The crew of the airboat finally located and recovered Whipple's body at approximately 9:40 Tuesday morning in about 4 feet of water, 9/10ths of a mile downstream from where they found the canoe.

An autopsy is planned to determine Mr. Whipple's cause of death but officials say it does not appear to be suspicious.