Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Choppy water and a frisky pup were reportedly the cause of a kayak tipping over on Arnold Brook Lake on Sept. 5.
“A call came in from a woman at the scene around 4:38 p.m. Friday through 9-1-1 to the barracks. I was in Easton at a game but rushed over to assist with a report of two people in Arnold Brook Lake,” said Warden Alan Dudley, of the Maine Warden Service. According to Dudley only one individual was wearing a life vest. Both were found with the kayak.
“Before I arrived at the scene, Sgt. Brian Gray (of the MWS) was in Presque Isle and went to the Presque Isle Police Department to pick up the boat. Before I arrived, a call came in that they were drifting toward the dike. I took a road leading to the dike; I saw the kayak turned over and two people bobbing in the water. I had a life vest and throw rope in my vehicle but they were too far out for the rope – about 150-200 yards,” said Dudley.
At that point, Dudley donned the vest and dove into the water.
“I swam out to them and was surprised how calm the woman was,” said Dudley, identifying the victims as Jasmine Abovian, 20, and Andrew Abovian, 17, both of Presque Isle. “I took my life vest off and made her put it on.”
Dudley said the woman informed him she was a junior at Maine Maritime Academy and used to swimming. With both victims in vests, Dudley assisted the pair in getting the kayak and themselves back to shore.
The younger Abovian told Dudley the rough water, combined with the dog’s motion, caused the kayak to tip.
“Andrew told me that he had paddled out about three-quarters of the way across and flipped. He said the dog shifted and waves caused him to flip the boat. He couldn’t get it back upright. It filled up with water. At that point, Jasmine was on shore watching and saw he was in trouble. That’s when she decided to swim out to help,” explained Dudley.
The water was fairly choppy for Arnold Brook, said Dudley, making it difficult for the Abovians to make it back to shore on their own.
“When they couldn’t upright the kayak, they were smart and stayed with it. They were tired but other than that, they’re fine,” he said.
Dudley said both individuals were checked and cleared at the scene, sustaining no injuries as the result of the incident.
“I got my exercise, between a run that day and the swim after. I’m just glad I was in casual clothes. My uniform would have been heavier to swim in,” said Dudley.
Assisting at the scene were Crown Ambulance, members of the Presque Isle Fire Department, members of the Presque Isle Police Department, as well as Wardens Ed Cristie and Preston Pomerleau.
The situation could have been worse, had it not been for Jasmine Abovian’s ability to stay calm, said Dudley.
“I give her credit. I have a feeling she helped keep him calm. They were smart enough to stay with the kayak. Despite being mostly submerged, it kept them afloat. It could have been a lot worse,” said Dudley. “The point to be made here is, even with kayaks, it’s best to go with someone experienced – team up with someone. She took a risk swimming out there, but she was upbeat about it. I really give her a lot of the credit.”
