Coast Guard identifies fisherman found dead alongside boat in Hurricane Sound
VINALHAVEN —The Coast Guard identified today, Aug. 14, the fisherman found dead in Hurricane Sound yesterday as Jeremy Philbrook, of Vinalhaven. His body was discovered beside his fishing vessel Outnumbered Aug. 13.
“The investigators are trying to find out what happened, where he was coming from, how long he had been in the water,” said Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Scott McCann, who is based in Portland.
The body of Philbrook is undergoing an autopsy to determine the cause of his death.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Maine Marine Patrol are investigating the death of a man discovered in the water alongside his unmanned fishing boat.
The man was found in Hurricane Sound in the waters of Vinalhaven.
At 1:43 p.m., Aug. 13, Coast Guard Station Rockland received a report from a Good Samaritan aboard a lobster boat who had discovered the incident, according to a news release from the Coast Guard. Coast Guard Station Rockland immediately launched a response boat.
The man was retrieved by a local fisherman, according to the Coast Guard.
Maine Marine Patrol transferred the man to emergency medical personnel in Carvers Harbor. EMTs there pronounced him deceased. The Coast Guard confirmed that he was the only person in the water, and has the lead on the investigation into the cause of the incident. The vessel is safely moored in Carvers Harbor.
"This is a heartbreaking incident in this community,” said Lt. Scott McCann, from Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, in the release. “We want to find out exactly what happened, so we can prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again. Remember to wear a lifejacket if you are on the water by yourself.”
Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657
