Woman Dies When Canoe Capsizes in Maine River

Game Wardens say a Maryland woman died while boating on the Androscoggin River.

Xiaolian Ding, 75, of Silver Springs, Maryland, was traveling in a canoe when it overturned at approximately 5:30 Wednesday evening. Officials say she became trapped underneath the boat and drowned. Ding her 82-year-old husband, Nimin Wang, and her 49-year-old daughter, Qiong Wang, all of Silver Springs had rented the canoe in Bethel. They had just started their trip downriver when the canoe they were paddling got stuck on a rock.

Father and daughter were in the stern and bow of the canoe, with Ding was sitting in the middle, when the boat overturned as they were trying to free it from the rock. Nimin and Qiong were thrown clear of the canoe, but Xiaolian became trapped as it floated downriver. They were able to get the canoe to the shore, as a witness called 911. Xiaolian was unresponsive and all efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.

Assisting the Wardens were Bethel Ambulance and Rescue Services, Bethel Fire Department, and the Oxford County Sheriff's Office.