Scary Sunday When 2 Pre-Teens Fell Through The Ice In Ellsworth

Two children were rescued after falling through the ice near the Kids Peace facility in Ellsworth.

A Fire Alarm Called Crews to Kids Peace on Sunday

Officials have not released the children's names but said they were all juveniles from the Kids Peace facility in Ellsworth. All four children are 12-years-old.

A fire alarm called Ellsworth Fire Department members to the Kids Peace mental health facility, on the shores of Graham Lake just before noon on Sunday. It turned out to be a false alarm.

By 12:30 pm, staff members at Kids Peace called the Ellsworth Police Department to report they had four juveniles, all 12 years old, who had absconded from the facility during the fire alarm. None of the four were appropriately dressed for the weather, causing concern for their well-being. Police officers responded to the area and began a search that included the department's K9, Taggert, and a department drone. Police, Kids Peace staff members, Maine Game Wardens, and Ellsworth Police were among the people searching the area, including nearby residences.

Searchers Found 1 of the Juveniles on the Ice of Graham Lake

Finally, a police officer noticed one of the juveniles out on the ice of Graham Lake. They crossed the ice and marsh to get to the child and learned that one of the other three missing juveniles had gone through the ice further near an island. A third juvenile was found on land near the island. The fourth remained unaccounted for.

Two of the Four Youths Had Fallen Into the Icy Waters

The first two youths located were taken to shore and treated by EMS on-scene. A Maine Warden Service plane circled the area and found one of the two missing juveniles approximately 3/4 of a mile from land, through the ice. Rescuers from the Ellsworth Fire, Ellsworth Police, and the Maine Warden Service teamed together and brought two canoes from land out through the marsh and over the ice to the island. One of the youths was still in the water while another had managed to get on the ice.

Both youths who had fallen into the water were rescued and treated for hypothermia. In all, three of the four youths who had run from Kids Peace were transported to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital for treatment.

We'll update this story as more details become available.