A man from Conway, New Hampshire, was successfully rescued early Sunday morning after his kayak capsized in the Saco River on Saturday afternoon. Mark Thompson, 69, found refuge on an island and was located using a drone equipped with thermal sensors. He was cold and wet but otherwise uninjured.
Thompson and his son had planned to kayak down the river when both their kayaks overturned. While his son managed to recover his kayak, Thompson became separated from his and had to swim to the island. He was last seen on the riverbank around 2 p.m. Saturday. The Center Conway Fire Department's drone played a crucial role in locating the heat signature on the island after midnight. Following the drone's lead, the North Conway and Bartlett Fire Swift Water Rescue Team reached Thompson and brought him to safety.
