Off-Duty Game Warden Helps to Save Family from Parlin Pond

An off-duty game warden, his wife, and neighbors helped save a man and his two daughters after their boat capsized in Parlin Pond.

Officials with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife say Emily MacCabe, whose husband Kris is a game warden, was working outside the family's Parlin Pond cabin on Sunday when she heard screaming along the shoreline. After scanning the densely wooded area, Emily and Kris thought they saw someone walking the shoreline, without clothes, screaming for help. Kris got his neighbor, Don West, and then took West's boat across the pond to where 14-year-old Kiana French of Skowhegan was screaming. She told MacCabe her family's boat had capsized and her sister and father were still out in the middle of the lake.

He put Kiana in the boat of another camp owner, Ray Levesque, and then Kris and Don traveled out to the middle of the lake, about 1,800' from where they found Kiana. Once there, they discovered 40-year-old Gary French of Norridgewock, and his 14-year-old daughter, Cierrah French of Skowhegan, who were still in the water and hypothermic. MacCabe and West brought the pair to shore, where all three were taken to Levesque's camp.

Officials say it appears that French and his daughters were out fishing when the winds picked up and waves started to crash over the sides of their 12' aluminum jon boat, and they started taking on water. Despite efforts to bail the boat, it eventually capsized. The three put on their lifejackets and tried to swim to shore, but only Kiana made it all the way before taking off her clothes and screaming for help. Emily MacCabe says the only reason she saw Kiana was because her fair skin contrasted with the dark trees as she moved. The girl said she thought she had seen the tactic on a reality TV show.

The father and his daughters were examined by EMS personnel but did not need further treatment. Game Warden Tennie Colman and Jackman/Moose River Fire and Rescue aided at the scene.