A holiday outing turned deadly on Flagstaff Lake in Maine this past weekend when a pontoon boat capsized, leaving two women dead and another in critical condition.
What Happened on the Water
Around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, a group of seven people was aboard an 18-foot 2024 Sea-Doo Switch pontoon boat near the Cathedral Pines Campground beach area in Eustis.
According to Mark Latti, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, the bow of the boat began to submerge unexpectedly.
The driver, 50-year-old John Morris, attempted to lift the bow, but the boat continued to sink and eventually flipped over, throwing all passengers into the water roughly 180 feet from shore.
Heroes on the Beach Step In
Witnesses on the nearby beach rushed to help, bringing all seven people safely back to land.
However, three women were unresponsive upon reaching shore.
CPR was administered immediately, but tragically, 53-year-old Farhana Nasir and 23-year-old Kiran Akbar were pronounced dead at the scene.
The third woman, 22-year-old Noor Nasir, was airlifted by LifeFlight to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, where she remains in critical condition.
Safety Concerns and Investigation
Authorities noted that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident.
While the investigation is ongoing, officials do not currently suspect alcohol played a role.
Flagstaff Lake is relatively shallow, with a maximum depth of 50 feet, according to the state’s website.
Despite the lake’s size, accidents like this underscore the importance of wearing life jackets and taking precautions on the water.
A Developing Story
Officials continue to investigate the exact circumstances that led to the pontoon flipping.
The community is mourning the loss of two lives, and families of the injured are anxiously awaiting updates.
