Inland Harbormaster Justin Twitchell relays safety warnings to boaters traveling on Megunticook Lake. He reported that on Monday, Aug. 6, a long distance swimmer had a scary moment on the lake.

The swimmer was wearing an orange swimmer cap and believed all precautions necessary to have a safe and enjoyable swim had been taken. While in the water the swimmer heard the sound of an outboard motor, and thought it was at a safe distance. But on looking up, the swimmer saw a large pontoon boat approaching. The swimmer had time to dive under water as the boat traveled across the water, over the swimmer.

The swimmer dove deep enough so the boat's propeller did no harm; however the swimmer later went to the emergency room, fearing burst blood vessels in the ear. It was determined the symptoms were caused by fluid backed up in the ear.

The boat's operator did see the swimmer but only after it was too late, according to Twitchell. The swimmer surfaced and the boat stopped, and took the swimmer back to shore.

Twitchell reminds boaters and swimmers to be aware of surroundings and practice safe boat standards. This was a situation where just a few inches made the difference between life and death, he said.

In other lake news: Twitchell has been tending to channel buoys and markers, runaway docks and floats, keeping the lakes and islands free of debris, and assisting Coastal Mountain Land Trust property owners with posting signs regulating fires and smoking, camping and pets.

Twitchell responded to one sunken boat incident near the ledge buoy in the middle of the lake. The caller said there was a dinghy that appeared to be on a mooring that had sunk, with just the stern left above the waterline. No fuel tanks were aboard and the boat was retrieved.

Twitchell also responded to a stranded boater complaint. The boat was twice as large as the patrol boat but Twitchell managed to get the boater and the disabled boat back to the shore.

One dead loon was found on the lake, which Twitchell thought had suffered a traumatic injury. He sent the bird to Avian Haven in Freedom for further testing.

Twitchell responded to complaints of jumpers off the cliffs, tubers without spotters and the all too common headway speed infraction.

He also participated in the annual Loon Count and, to date, reports a busy but enjoyable lake season.