Sun, 06/28/2026 - 9:40am

Sarah Thompson

South Thomaston fire truck (File photo by Sarah Thompson)

UPDATE (9:35 a.m.) — The missing individual whom emergency crews had been searching for since around midnight made his own way to a paved road shortly after daybreak, approximately a half mile from where he started, according to South Thomaston Fire Dept. on its Facebook page. From there he was found by searchers and transported to the hospital where he was treated for exposure.

"We all grateful for a happy outcome," said STFD on its FB page.

STFD and EMS, the Knox County Sheriff, Maine Warden Service, and Rockland Fire Department all participated in this search.

Search in progress for missing campground guest in South Thomaston

SOUTH THOMASTON (4:42 a.m.) — Through the early morning hours, Sunday, June 28, 2026, South Thomaston Fire and EMS, along with deputies from the Sheriff’s Office, have been combing an area around Watermans Beach Road, with specific focus on Lobster Buoy Campground, 280 Watermans Beach Road, following a report of a campground guest going off to take a shower hours before and not returning.

After following up on the report, Knox County Sheriff’s deputies requested the assistance of Fire and EMS at approximately 12:20 a.m., Sunday morning, to search the shoreline for the adult male. After walking the shoreline of the campground, searchers expanded into the region, spreading out in all directions, driving the length of Watermans Beach Road and all side streets, and checking parked vehicles. By 1:30 a.m., personnel from the Dept. of Public Safety – Augusta – were en route, and a dog eventually searched the area. Around that time, a deputy at the campground scene was called away to handle an unrelated assault incident in Owls Head.

By 2 a.m., Rockland’s Engine 2 Company (call shift) was being summonsed to the Rockland station in preparation for a crew with a drone to respond to the search field for its aerial view and heat detector capabilities. Just as a crew was en route, a thunder storm unleashed over the area, with a lightning strike being the possible cause of sudden smoke in the basement of a Warren residence. At 2:15 a.m., Warren, Union, and Waldoboro fire departments were called to 270 Eastern Road. All smoke cleared from that residence shortly after the arrival of fire personnel, and all personnel had left the scene by approximately 3:30 a.m. In Rockland, shortly after the drone team left, an ambulance was dispatched to a medical call in Rockland.

By 2:40 a.m., thunder and lightning had dissipated, but heavy rain saturated the area. South Thomaston crews set about checking more cars and then checked each camp site of the approximate 37-lot facility.

So far, the person has not been located and Fire and EMS crews continue the search.