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Portland man's body recovered from Presumpscot River

The search began around 4:45 p.m. Sunday after friends reported he had not resurfaced while swimming in the river in Falmouth.

FALMOUTH, Maine — Rescue officials recovered an 18-year-old Portland man's body in the Presumpscott River on Sunday night.

The body was identified as Pedro Matala, according to a release Monday from the Maine Department of Marine Resources.

The search for Matala, which involved Maine Forest Service aircraft, began around 4:45 p.m. Sunday, after friends reported he had not resurfaced while swimming in the river in Falmouth.

Maine State Police/Marine Patrol Underwater Recovery Team members pulled Matala's body from the river around 9 p.m., according to Monday's release. His body was taken to a local funeral home.

A post on the Deering High School Facebook page Monday said Matala would have been a senior in the fall. He was also "a soccer player, an artist, and a friend to many students and staff," according to the post.

The post said Deering would hold a gathering at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday for any students or staff who wish to come together and remember Matala.

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