ELLSWORTH – A Hancock man had to be helped by local emergency personnel after his kayak tipped Monday afternoon in the Union River.

Michael Carter, 34, was paddling downriver around 2:20 p.m. when he encountered rapids where Shore Road comes to the river’s edge, according to Deborah Turcotte, spokeswoman for the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Game Warden Shannon Fish assisted local police and fire departments at the scene, Turcotte said.

Carter was wearing a cast on his leg as he paddled because he recently had knee surgery, according to Turcotte. The cast appeared to be on Carter’s right leg as he was helped from the river.

“He hit a rock,” Turcotte said, describing how Carter fell out of the kayak.

Unlike enclosed, oceangoing kayaks, Carter’s boat had an open cockpit that left his legs exposed to the sun and water. After the kayak tipped over, Carter was able to get to and then sit on a rock in the river, but because of the cast he could not get to shore.

Carter called out to a passer-by on Shore Road who then called police. Members of the Ellsworth Police and Fire departments went to the scene to assist. Donning life preservers and helmets, they waded from the west bank of the river out to the rock with a rope and then carried Carter safely back to shore.

Sgt. Bart Tokas of the Ellsworth Police Department said Carter refused medical treatment at the scene. Carter’s kayak and paddle were recovered downstream from where he fell in.

btrotter@bangordailynews.net

460-6318