SKOWHEGAN — A Skowhegan man remained in critical condition at a Bangor hospital Tuesday after he was rescued from the Kennebec River on Saturday.
Richard Dunton, 64, of Alder Street, was spotted by a boater Saturday afternoon floating face down and unconscious near a home on Norridgewock Avenue, next to the Skowhegan History House.
Dunton and his wife had been swimming in the river near the house when Dunton apparently lost consciousness.
Tom Cleaver, of Bokeelia, Fla., who was visiting his family at their riverside home, pulled Dunton from the water. Cleaver’s brother, Kip Cleaver, administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation as police and emergency crews arrived on scene and got him breathing on his own.
Dunton was taken to Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan and then by LifeFlight helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he remained Tuesday.
It was still unknown Tuesday what caused Dunton to lose consciousness.
Witnesses said there were many people who helped Dunton on Saturday, including the boater who yelled to call 911, the Cleavers, and police and emergency personnel who worked to stabilize him.
Dunton is a longtime friend of the Cleaver family, who were visiting for the day.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
dharlow@centralmaine.com
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