Maine native dies in boating mishap

BAKER LAKE, New Brunswick – A Maine native living in Baker Lake died from injuries suffered in a Saturday afternoon boating accident, Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Tuesday.

Reno Nadeau, 57, apparently fell from his fishing boat about 4:30 p.m. Saturday and his clothing got caught in the spinning engine propeller.

Sgt. Gary Cameron of the RCMP said Nadeau had been fishing alone.

Cameron said Nadeau’s boat apparently had taken on water.

Police believe Nadeau removed a plug in the stern of the boat to let the water out and fell overboard at the stern near the outboard motor. Cameron said it appears that Nadeau’s clothing became caught in the propeller.

He was found shortly after the accident and taken to shore.

Cameron said Nadeau was alive when he was taken from the scene by ambulance. He died en route to Northern Maine Medical Center at Fort Kent.

Nadeau grew up in Madawaska and lived in Frenchville for years before moving to Canada. He worked for the former Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, was the operator of the Northern Aroostook Regional Incinerator Facility at Frenchville for a time, and had operated a maple sugar operation at Baker Lake for much of the past decade.