January 30, 2020 — The community is mourning the loss of a local fisherman and his crew member, while the U.S. Coast Guard continues to investigate the cause of their deaths at sea.
The Maine Marine Patrol identified Capt. Arnold “Joe” Nickerson IV, 60, of Arundel, and crew member Chris Pinkham, 44, of Boothbay Harbor, as the two fishermen who were pulled unresponsive from the ocean Jan. 23 after the Coast Guard received an emergency alert.
The two men and their boat, the Hayley Ann, a 42-foot ground fishing vessel based out of Kennebunkport, were located near Cashes Ledge, about 70 miles off the shore of Portland, according to Maine Marine Patrol spokesperson Jeff Nichols.
After the alert, an airplane responded, and its crew spotted the sinking vessel and a life raft floating nearby, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Zachary Hupp.
About half an hour later, two Coast Guard helicopters also arrived. A rescue swimmer, lowered to the water from one of the aircrafts, confirmed that the life raft was empty, according to Hupp. The swimmer also confirmed that there were two people in the water, both unresponsive and floating face-down.
The Coast Guard contacted a nearby fishing vessel, the Ella Christine, and its crew diverted to the scene and assisted in recovering the two fisherman.