Portland Fire Department crews were dispatched at 12:08 pm to respond to the Cutter Street and East End Beach area for the report of an occupied vehicle that had entered the water and was sinking.  Fire and Police Departments responders arrived at the scene at 12:10 pm to confirm the vehicle was in the water approximately 75 yards offshore and was rapidly sinking with an occupant inside according to a press release issued from the Fire Department late this afternoon.

Members of both the fire and police departments forced entry into the vehicle while underwater.  A good samaritan lobster boat was on scene with an equipped diver who entered the water to assist in removal of the occupant from the vehicle.  PFD Marine Divison members were standing by in Marine 3, where the occupant was moved to.  The occupant was unresponsive without a pulse at the time.

Working on the deck of Maine 3, crews initiated CPR while bringing the occupant into the boat launch where awaiting mainland PFD crews continued life saving efforts until the occupant was successfully resuscitated and subsequently transported rapidly to a local hospital. Besides the challenges of extended exposure to 50 degree water temperatures, there were no reported injuries to respnders or bystanders.

A subsequent press release from the Portand Police Department stated that the vehicle entering the waters had been reported stolen out of South Portand earlier in the day.  The cause of the accident is under investigation.  The same press release reported that the occupant of the vehicle was 33 years old and was transported to Maine Medical Center where he is in stable condition.

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