PENOBSCOT — A half-dozen agencies helped rescue a man from the Penobscot River after his boat overturned Saturday morning.

According to Public Information Officer Sharon Bray of the Orland Fire Department, a man was rowing a small skiff in the river between Doshen Shore in Penobscot and Fort Point Lighthouse in Stockton Springs.

The boat capsized and the man called for help. People on shore heard him and called 911 at around 10 a.m.

The Orland Fire Department launched its rescue boat from the Penobscot shore at the same time as boats from Castine appeared downriver, heading north.

Dana Willis and his son Justin Willis of Penobscot arrived on scene in a Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) whaler, and they rescued the man, who had stayed with his capsized boat.

The man was reportedly wearing a life jacket when his boat overturned, and did not remove it until safely onboard the MMA boat.

Castine Selectman and Assistant Fire Chief Peter Vogell arrived in his own fishing boat, and another boat responded with personnel from the Castine harbormaster’s office.

Other Castine emergency personnel assisted on shore. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and Maine Marine Patrol also were involved in the rescue effort.

Once safely on shore, the man who was pulled from the water was given a warm blanket and taken to Blue Hill Memorial Hospital by Peninsula Ambulance Corps.

He was taken to the hospital, according to Bray, after “reporting to his family members that he was cold but otherwise well.”

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