PRESQUE ISLE — The body of a Presque Isle man was recovered Sunday after a canoe he was in with two other men capsized on Echo Lake in the early morning, the Maine Warden Service reported.

The body of Jacob Caldwell, 19, was recovered at about 11:10 a.m., said Lt. Thomas Ward of the Maine Warden Service.

Wardens were summoned to the scene for a report of three men who capsized in a 17-foot aluminium canoe at about 2:30 a.m., Ward said.

The two other men, both 25 and also from Presque Isle, were able to swim to shore, Ward said. Their identities were not immediately available.

The canoe was an estimated 50 yards from shore at the time it capsized. It was not clear how deep the water was where the incident took place.

Wardens used an aircraft in the search when it was light enough to see, and the pilot located what he thought was the missing man’s body in shallow water, but strong winds hampered the recovery efforts, Ward said.

Caldwell’s body eventually was recovered by warden divers in about 4 to 5 feet of water. It was recovered about a half-mile from the canoe, which had drifted up on the north shore of the lake.

Ward was uncertain who reported the incident, but Aroostook State Park is nearby, as well as some camps, he said. The canoe apparently capsized just a short time before it was reported.

He was unsure what the men were doing on the lake at that time of night.

“I don’t know, as a matter of fact,” Ward said. The incident is under investigation, he said.

Ward reminded outdoor enthusiasts that water is still cold this time of year. People using boats, canoes and kayaks should abide by all safety laws and wear floatation devices, he said.

Members of the warden service and Presque Isle police responded.

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