Orland Man Dies After Falling Through Ice on Alamoosook

Rescuers were unable to get to an Orland man in time, after his truck fell through the ice of Alamoosook Lake.

63-year-old Brian Wardwell was heard yelling for help at around 7:15 Wednesday evening. Wardens say Wardwell and his dog had been driving across Alamoosook Lake in Orland when his pickup truck broke through the ice. A person on the shore tried to get to Wardwell, but also fell through the ice. He was able to get himself to safety and call 911. Local firefighters put on dry suits and were able to find Wardwell, unresponsive, in 10 feet of water. All efforts to revive him, once they got him to shore, were unsuccessful. His dog also died in the accident.

"Ice conditions are poor in some parts of the state, particularly along the coast," Maine Game Warden Alan Gillis said in a media release. "People need to check the ice in several spots before venturing out and we are advising people in this area not to take vehicles on the ice."

The Maine Warden Service was aided at the scene by Orland EMS, Bucksport EMS, and LifeFlight.