ELLSWORTH, Maine — Maine Game Wardens assisted with the rescue of four children in Ellsworth Sunday afternoon after they fell through the ice on Graham Lake.
Wardens received a call just before 2:30 p.m. about four children who went missing from a local group home. The children weren't prepared for the cold weather conditions and were dressed in pajamas, according to a Monday release from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.
Officials were worried about the group home's proximity to Graham Lake and Union River, where ice conditions were dangerous.
Nine game wardens, an aircraft, an airboat, and a K9 team were deployed, supported by the Ellsworth Police Department, Ellsworth Fire Department, Mariaville Fire Department, Penobscot Nation Warden Service, Maine Marine Patrol, and Maine Forest Service.
Game Warden Eric Rudolph was the first warden to arrive on the scene and searched a road in the woods where an officer located one of the children's jackets, according to the release. The road led to a gravel pit wardens believed was the route the children took. When wardens arrived at the gravel pit they spotted one of the children on a nearby island on Graham Lake, across the ice from the gravel pit. Warden Rudolph crossed the ice and found the child wet and hypothermic, the release stated.
"The child told Warden Rudolph that his friend had fallen through the ice and pointed to an area further up the lake. Warden Rudolph provided the information to Game Warden Pilot Chris Hilton who continued to search from the air while Warden Rudolph took the child back across the lake to an officer from Ellsworth Police Department," the release stated.
Ellsworth Police Sergeant Chad Wilmont located another one of the children on the ice near Route 179 and brought the child back to his police cruiser.
Hilton located the other two children on the ice and found one had fallen through and was clinging to the edge. Warden Rudolph and Corporal Rob Angelo from the Ellsworth PD ran to the area where the two children were, but couldn't reach them due to ice conditions, according to the release.
The Ellsworth Fire Department arrived with two canoes and Captain Tyler Kennedy and Firefighter/EMT Beau Parker crossed the thin ice and rescued the two children.
Three of the children were taken to Maine Coast Memorial Hospital to be treated for exposure and hypothermia, the release stated.
Sgt. Alan Gillis said three other kids also fell through the ice but were able to get out of the water on their own.
Three of the four were taken to the hospital for concerns of hypothermia, Gillis said. Their conditions are unknown.
Gillis said all four juveniles knew each other and were running away from a local group home.
The Maine Game Wardens remind everyone of the danger of walking on thin ice no matter your age.
Find ice safety reminders and tips at mefishwildlife.com/icesafety.