Man apparently drowns while fishing

TOWNSHIP 3, RANGE 11 – A Massachusetts fly fisherman apparently drowned Thursday in the West Branch of the Penobscot River just northwest of Piscataquis County’s Little Ambejackmockamus Falls, state officials said.

Three fishermen from Sanford working the north bank of the river found Charles H. Zimmerman, 51, of Upton, Mass., floating face-down in the river in about 3 feet of water about three-tenths of a mile south of Chewonkis Big Eddy Campground, 8027 Golden Road, at about 11 a.m.

Two went to the campground and had workers there call 911 at about 11:15 a.m., Game Warden Joel Wilkinson said. Game wardens retrieved Zimmerman’s body about two hours later.

A state medical examiner will do an autopsy in Augusta today, Wilkinson said.

“Nothing at this point appears to be suspicious, but as it was an unwitnessed death, it is the Medical Examiner’s Office policy to investigate,” Wilkinson said.

Investigators believe Zimmerman, who was staying at a Millinocket motel and had parked his vehicle near where his body was found, slipped under the water accidentally or suffered a medical problem, such as a heart attack, Wilkinson said.

Zimmerman was found in shallow and slow-moving water, but the body, which was about 40 feet from the river’s north bank, could have drifted from another, more violent point in the river.

“We know nothing of his medical history or what might have occurred to put him where he was found,” Wilkinson said.

The river runs as deep as 8 feet and the current runs very strong in points near where the body was found, Wilkinson said.

Zimmerman also was wearing waders that drained, making it unlikely that their weighing him down contributed to his drowning, said Kim Lynch, an off-duty park ranger who was at the camp visiting friends when the fishermen came.

“They came up here and told us and we decided to go down to see,” said Mark Adams, who manages the campground with his wife, Susan. “He didn’t have any bruises or anything. It didn’t seem like he was injured.”

Adams guided the wardens to the body and provided them with a raft, paddles, lifejackets, warm gear, ropes and an anchor. Susan Adams also fed them some lasagna leftovers when their work was done.

“They were wonderful,” Wilkinson said. “We’re very fortunate to have people like that around. Whenever we deal with people at sporting lodges or campgrounds, the people always step up and help us and we really appreciate the help.”

Game wardens have seen many drownings statewide but drownings involving wading fishermen are rare, he said.