EMBDEN, Maine — A man from New Hampshire has died after getting swept away in the Kennebec River while fishing with his son on Father's Day.
James Wescott, 56, of Fremont, New Hampshire, and his son, 34-year-old Jarod Wescott of Norridgewock, were fly fishing on the Kennebec River in Embden around 8 a.m. Sunday when James lost his footing while walking out to a gravel bar in the river, a news release from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said.
James fell into the water and was washed downstream when his waders quickly filled with water, the release stated. He was not wearing a wading belt.
His son Jarod took off his own waders and jumped into the water to try and save his father, according to the release. He was able to reach his father, but the weight of James' water-filled waders and the current "made it impossible" to bring him back to shore, officials said.
"Jarod was forced to swim to shore and eventually made his way to an ATV trail where he was able to get a passerby on an ATV to call 911 at about 8:30 AM," the release stated.
First responders from Anson, Solon, Madison, and Skowhegan arrived at the scene where they said James was found unresponsive.
He was brought to Dan and Scott's Funeral Home in Skowhegan.