A tragic incident unfolded in Carmel, Maine, when town manager Kevin Howell lost his life after rescuing his 4-year-old son from a pond where both fell through the ice. The incident occurred during an early morning walk across a section of Etna Pond. Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office reported that the ice gave way under their weight, plunging them into the frigid waters.
With quick thinking and heroism, Howell managed to pull his son, Sawyer, out of the water and instructed him to run back to their house half a mile away and alert his mother. The young boy bravely made the journey and promptly called 911, while his mother raced to the scene with an anchor and rope.
Tragically, as Howell’s wife secured the rope to shore and hurried to reach her husband, she also broke through the ice and was unable to get out. The situation quickly escalated, but fortunately, the Penobscot sheriff arrived to assist. Crawling across the ice and utilizing the same rope Howell’s wife had fastened, the sheriff successfully rescued her.
Despite the rescue effort, Howell had disappeared beneath the water’s surface. Divers recovered his body later that afternoon, nearly 8 hours after the incident. Howell was the town manager of Carmel since 2015, praised for his leadership and awarded several accolades for his work in town government.
The tragedy has deeply impacted the community, with town employees changing their Facebook profile pictures to the town emblem adorned with a black ribbon as a sign of mourning. Howell’s contributions extended beyond Carmel, as he also served as a member of Maine’s second EMS Blue Ribbon Commission. Maine EMS expressed their condolences, highlighting Howell’s support for the state and the community.
Etna Pond, covering about 361 acres with a depth of 12 feet, is a popular destination for ice fishing and skating. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with winter activities on frozen bodies of water.