PRINCETON — A Princeton man was rescued from the icy waters of Long Lake, near the New Brunswick border, after trying to save a deer that had fallen through the ice.

Rick Crowe, 63, of Princeton, had put on a life jacket and tried to take a canoe out onto the ice to rescue the deer, according to a news release from the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The canoe overturned, throwing Crowe into the frigid water a little after 8:30 a.m, Jan. 4.

Tina Crowe, Rick’s wife, immediately called Game Warden Brad Richard, who was in the area.

Richard went to the scene, saw Crowe in the water with his lifejacket, and immediately got the Warden Service Airboat that was stored at the nearby Princeton Airport, as well as Princeton Fire Chief Tony Ramsdell and Princeton Firefighter Chris McPhee. He also alerted the Indian Township Police and Indian Township Ambulance.

The three rescuers crossed the lake to where Crowe was in the water, and Ramsdell, who was wearing a cold water rescue suit, jumped into the water to secure Crowe who was conscious but severely hypothermic.

The three men got Crowe into the airport, got him to shore where the Indian Township Ambulance was waiting, and he was transported to Calais Regional Hospital. Crowe’s body temperature was 89 degrees when he was transported.

Warden Richard and the two others then went and retrieved the canoe, and also brought the deer to shore.

Game wardens remind everyone that the ice this year can be treacherous, as warm weather and rains in December has left many lakes and ponds with far less ice than normal. Game Wardens remind everyone to check ice thickness before heading out for any activity on the ice.