NOBLEBORO — A Florida man, 74, drowned after attempting to swim after his boat that drifted away from shore, according to a news release from the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. 

At approximately 1:45 p.m., May 30, Richard Eason of Ocala, Florida, and who has a summer home on Damariscotta Lake in Nobleboro, launched his boat at the Vannah Road launch on Damariscotta Lake and pulled the boat onto shore. While he was parking his truck, he noticed that due to the wind, the boat had drifted off the shore toward the center of the lake, the release said. 

Witnesses on the lake who were fishing saw Eason jump into the water and swim after his boat that continued to drift away from him. Witnesses stated that after Eason swam approximately 75 yards, he went under the water and never resurfaced. Eason was not wearing a life jacket.

Nobleboro Fire and Rescue and Damariscotta Fire and Rescue departments responded to the scene and launched boats to look for Eason but were unsuccessful.

The Maine Warden Service Dive Team was dispatched to the area, and at approximately 7 p.m., they were able to recover Eason who was found in approximately 15 feet of water. Eason was taken to Halls Funeral Home in Waldoboro. 

Nobleboro Fire and Rescue, Damariscotta Fire and Rescue, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Maine Warden Service with the drowning.