Boater Dies After Struggle in Cold Massabesic Lake

A middle-of-the-night kayak trip turned tragic when one of the boaters wound up in  Massabesic Lake and died after struggling in the water, according to New Hampshire State Police.

A male and a friend took to the water in two kayaks around 2 a.m. early Wednesday morning and one wound up in the lake near Brown's Island on the Auburn side of the lake around 4 a.m., according to State Police. Attempts to revive the individual were unsuccessful.

Police said there were no flotation devices on either boat. Neither individual was identified by police or the circumstance of how the boater wound up in the water.

The National Weather Service warned earlier that while temperatures have been in the 70s and 80s the past few days the temperature on lakes, rivers, streams, and the ocean are still in the 50s and can cause the body to go into cold shock.

A person could lose dexterity within minutes and be unable to accomplish simple tasks, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Margaret Curtis. At this time of year boaters on any type of water need to wear life jackets, a wet suit, or a dry suit.

Police said state law requires every boater to have a wearable life jacket with them whenever they are aboard any boat. Children ages 12 years and younger must also wear a life jacket while underway on the public waters.

Anyone who has further information related to this accident or who witnessed it is asked to contact State Police at 603-227-2117.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH