An Alton man died Sunday after his canoe capsized while he was tending to his bait fish traps.

Paul Malicky, 57, of Dolliff Road had gone out into a farm pond shortly before noon to tend his traps. As he returned to shore around 1 p.m., Malicky apparently fell in the water as he tried to get out of his canoe, according to the Maine Warden Service.

Malicky’s wife, Lynn, called neighbors and 911 for help, but Malicky had drifted from shore and gone under water by the time assistance arrived, according to the warden service.

Crews from Old Town, Orono and Alton fire departments responded along with several game wardens to search the pond. Malicky’s body was recovered by warden service divers around 4:30 p.m.

The incident remains under investigation.

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