Naked man pulled from big lake off Pendleton Beach

LACONIA — A naked man was pulled from the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee off Pendleton Beach Road shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Fire Chief Ken Erickson said that the original 9-1-1 call reported a disturbance aboard a boat in the vicinity of the Weirs Channel, to which the New Hampshire Marine Patrol and Laconia, Gilford and Belmont fire departments responded. The boat was found motoring along without running lights.

About 20 minutes later, at 8:30 p.m. the fire departments were notified that there was a man overboard and in distress near Pendleton Beach Road. Two residents had launched their boat and found the man, who was naked and distressed, in the water and drew him to the side of their boat. The crew from the Weirs Beach Station arrived, took the man aboard the fire-rescue boat and transported him to the dock at Weirs Beach. The Belmont ambulance took the man to Lakes Regional General Hospital where he was evaluated.

Capt. Chris Shipp of the Laconia Fire Department explained to the residents that because the initial call referred to a disturbance aboard a boat firefighters were delayed into reaching the man in the water and expressed the appreciation of the department to them for assisting with the rescue.

Erickson said that it is not unusual for residents and boaters to come to the aid of others in distress on the lakes.