Androscoggin deputy dies after river dive

LEWISTON – The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the loss of a member of its dive team.

Deputy David Rancourt and other members of the dive team were looking for criminal evidence in the Androscoggin River near the Veteran’s Bridge when Rancourt got into trouble Saturday morning, officials said.

Emergency medical technicians performed CPR after Rancourt surfaced and signaled that he needed help, but he died at Central Maine Medical Center, officials said. Rancourt, 40, of Leeds had retired last week from the Army Reserves, which took him twice to the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm as well as during the latest conflict, said Capt. Raymond LaFrance.