Event narrative (NOAA)
High surf generated from Hurricane Bill...which was tracking well east of the region...produced large waves along the Maine coast. A large wave washed a group of spectators at Thunder Hole...in Acadia National Park...into the ocean. The spectators had gathered to watch the high surf break along the rocky coast. The wave washed 7 individuals into the water...4 of which were able to exit the water on their own. Of the remaining 3...2 were rescued by the Coast Guard. The final individual...a 7 year old girl...perished before she could be rescued. The girl was in the water for over 3 hours before her body was recovered. In addition to the fatality...13 individuals were injured when the same wave slammed people on to rocks. The injuries varied in severity...ranging from broken and dislocated bo
Other notable high surf events in Maine
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.