December 25, 2024
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Hampden man who fell into stream still missing

HAMPDEN – A Hampden man who fell Sunday afternoon into the Kenduskeag Stream in Bangor is still missing.

Joseph Majeau, 77, was walking along the Kenduskeag Stream shore with his wife when he slipped and fell into the stream. Majeau fell in the vicinity of Valley Avenue, just below the bridge.

Although it wasn’t a long fall, the swift current quickly carried Majeau downstream, according to Bangor fire officials.

“Evidently there was an attempt by a passer-by to rescue him,” Cpl. Chris Bailey of the Hampden Police Department said Monday. That attempt, however, was unsuccessful and Bangor rescue crews were called in around 3:30 p.m.

Bangor police and fire crews responded to the original rescue call, but Hampden police took over the case.

“We were notified several hours later [on Sunday] that the gentleman was from Hampden,” Bailey said. Hampden police put out a missing persons report and spoke Monday with some of Majeau’s family members.

Search and rescue efforts Sunday afternoon went on for more than two hours.

After receiving the call, Bangor fire crews put two men in the water behind the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building. The two walked up to where Majeau fell into the stream but found nothing.

Looking for Majeau, a LifeFlight helicopter surveyed the stream and the Penobscot River that it empties into, but that attempt was unsuccessful.

The search continued Monday, but by nightfall, no signs of Majeau were found.

“Basically, what we’ve done today is we’ve checked various locations along the [Penobscot River],” Bailey said. Police were searching various locations to look for signs that Majeau may have been able to climb out of the water.

“We’re holding out hope that he was able to hold onto some ledge or hold onto something for safety,” Bailey said.


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