Tragic Incident Claims Life of Maine Town Manager in Heroic Rescue Attempt
A devastating incident unfolded in Carmel as the town’s manager, Kevin Howell, 51, lost his life while attempting to save his 4-year-old son from a frozen pond on Friday. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office reported that the tragic incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. at Etna Pond, located approximately 1/3 of a mile from the Howell family home.
According to authorities, Howell and his son broke through the ice during their morning walk. Despite the perilous situation, Howell managed to pull his son to safety and instructed him to seek help from his mother. The boy promptly ran home, informing his mother of the incident, who then dialed 911 and rushed to the scene armed with an anchor and a rope.
The situation took a turn for the worse when, in an attempt to assist her husband, Howell’s wife also fell through the ice. A detective in the area, alerted by the 911 call, courageously navigated the hazardous ice, holding onto the rope, and successfully pulled the woman to safety.
Tragically, despite the efforts of emergency responders, Kevin Howell could not be located. The Maine Warden Service and the Carmel Fire Department joined the search but faced challenges due to the treacherous conditions.
Around 1:40 p.m. on Friday, two Maine Warden Service divers entered the pond and discovered Howell’s lifeless body just before 2 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.
Carmel, located approximately 93 miles northeast of Lewiston, is left in shock as it mourns the loss of its town manager. Howell’s responsibilities included the oversight and management of town departments, as outlined on Carmel’s website.
As the community grapples with this tragic event, town representatives could not be reached for immediate comment on Saturday evening.