Newport kayaker dies in accident on local lake Woman was pinned against dam

NEWPORT – A Newport woman died after falling out of her kayak and becoming pinned against the grate of a dam on Sebasticook Lake on Saturday, police said.

Joyce Packard, who would have turned 53 today, was taken to Sebasticook Valley Hospital after the accident and pronounced dead.

Packard was kayaking with another woman in separate kayaks when the current pushed their boats against a dam at the North Street bridge on the central Maine lake, Newport police Lt. Gary Morin said.

The current is fast in the area as the dam is open for the annual drawdown, he said.

Packard’s husband, Stephen Packard, heard the cries for help. He went into the water to help and also became trapped against the grate and had to be rescued from the water.

The other woman, whom police would not identify, had gotten out of her kayak and was safe, Morin said Sunday.

Police were called to the scene at about 2:40 p.m. and began rescue attempts. Joyce Packard had been pinned against the dam grate underwater for about 20 minutes before her body could be recovered, Morin said.