Maine game warden divers have recovered the body of a Connecticut man. The body of Christopher Hughes, 52, from Trumbull, Conn., was recovered shortly after 9:00 this morning. Divers located Hughes’ body about 200 feet from shore in 16 feet of water.

At 10:00 last evening, Hughes went canoeing on the eastern shore of Panther Pond. Hughes and several co-workers were staying at a camp off Sloan’s Cove Road in Raymond while working construction in New Hampshire. The camp was owned by a co-workers family member. A friend and co-worker, David Donahue, also from Connecticut, went out on the pond in a separate kayak along with Hughes. Donahue soon heard hollering from Hughes a short distance away but was not able to get to him. Hughes did not have and was not wearing a lifejacket. At this time game wardens are uncertain what caused Hughes to enter the water.

The area was searched late last evening starting around 11 into this morning by game wardens with assistance from Raymond Fire Department. Efforts were then concentrated on this morning at daylight  to begin searching with divers and a Warden Service aircraft. The body has been transported to Augusta for examination by the Medical Examiner’s Office. After examination, Hughes body will be transported to Connecticut to a funeral home there.

Maine game wardens respond to a possible drowning in Raymond. Maine Warden Service divers are on scene this morning at Panther Pond to search for a Connecticut man missing since last evening. At 10 last evening, a 52-year-old male went canoeing alone on the eastern shore of the pond. Friends soon heard distressed hollering from the man and called for help. Raymond Fire and game wardens responded. The area was searched late last evening into this morning and the man’s overturned canoe was located. Efforts were then concentrated on this morning to begin searching with divers.