Portland man drowns in East Outlet of Moosehead Lake

SAPLING TOWNSHIP — A 40-year-old Portland man drowned Saturday, June 18 in the east outlet of the Kennebec River.

Truc Huynh of Portland was fishing with a friend during the morning on the East Outlet which flows out of Moosehead Lake. The pair were in a fishing raft, and around noontime decided to move to a new location to fish on the river. They descended down through some whitewater rapids, which overturned the boat and threw the two men into the water.

Huynh was not wearing a life jacket, was swept under by the current, and never resurfaced. His friend, who was wearing a life jacket, made it to shore and called for help. Wardens and witnesses searched the shoreline for Huynh but were unable to find him.

The Maine Warden Service launched an airplane to fly the river, and Game Warden Pilot Chris Hilton was able to locate Huynh still under the water downstream from where the raft overturned at approximately 4 in the afternoon. Game wardens were able to then launch a boat, and recover the body at approximately 4:20 p.m. Huynh was taken to a local funeral home.