July 7, 2012

Man who died in buoy accident identified as local film actor

Thomas McNamara of Kennebunk slipped off a navigational buoy and struck his head before slipping below the surface of the water.

By Randy Billings rbillings@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

KENNEBUNK — Investigators have identified the 25-year-old man who died while swimming near an offshore buoy Thursday as Thomas Fergus “Tommy” McNamara.

McNamara was with nine other friends aboard a 23-foot boat about a mile off the coast of Kennebunk when he died in the early evening, according to Sgt. Danny White of the Marine Patrol, which led the search and investigation.

White said McNamara climbed up on a U.S. Coast Guard navigational buoy located seven-tenths of a mile from the Kennebunk River. Witnesses told investigators McNamara lost his footing, slipped and struck his head on the metal buoy, White said.

“(The buoy) is not very big at the top and it’s not very stable and with the water – it’s basically bobbing around in the ocean,” White said.

After striking his head, McNamara fell into the water and never resurfaced, White said.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Kennebunk Fire and Rescue and a Jayhawk helicopter crew assisted in the search. The Maine State Dive Team, comprised of members of the Maine State Police and Marine Patrol, recovered McNamara’s body near the buoy, White said.

McNamara grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from Winchester High School, according to his obituary. He studied film acting and graduated from the New York Film Academy and Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, N.H. He recently lived in Kennebunk and New York City, where he was a film actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Calling hours have been scheduled for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 1 p.m. Monday at the Holy Spirit Parish/St. Martha’s Church, Portland Road, Kennebunk.

Staff Writer Randy Billings can be contacted at 791-6346 or at: rbillings@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @randybillings

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