Colby College student drowns as canoe capsizes

SIDNEY – A Colby College exchange student drowned Friday evening when his canoe capsized during a storm on Messalonskee Lake, authorities said.

With the storm approaching, the victim and two others who were on an island decided to try to paddle back to shore before the water became too rough, said Kennebec County Sheriff Everett Flannery. The canoe overturned about 75 yards away from shore; the three stayed with the capsized canoe briefly before they decided to try to swim to safety. Two of the three made it to shore, Flannery said.

Six divers from the sheriff’s department responded to the emergency call at about 5 p.m. but they were not able to save the victim, whose body was found in 45 feet of water, Flannery said.

The victim’s identity was not immediately released pending notification of relatives, the sheriff said.