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The body of a 21-year-old from Hampden has been recovered after being swept into the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday while he was climbing in Acadia National Park.
Emil Lin, a graduate student at Northeastern University, was last seen by his climbing partner, University of Maine student John Rudnicki, and his family on Otter Cliffs in Acadia.
The pair were climbing a cliff, and Rudnicki reached the top first. Lin remained at the bottom when a wave at high tide washed up and dislodged some equipment that had previously been tied to their climbing ropes.
Lin realized that along with the equipment, his shoe had been washed out into the ocean. He unharnessed himself and dove into the ocean, swimming out approximately 100 feet to retrieve his shoe.
Lin swam back, but could not manage to climb back up or get a grip on the rocks before a large wave came up and washed him into the ocean, according to National Park Ranger Richard Rechholtz.
Rudnicki was unharmed in the incident, according to Kevin Cochary, Branch Chief of MDI operations for Acadia.
“They were just trying out new climbing gear,” said Acadia National Park Ranger Neal Labrie.
There was a three-day search for Lin’s body, according to the Maine State Police. It was called off on Sunday evening because of worsening sea conditions and resumed the next day.
The search consisted of joint operations with the Coast Guard and Marine Patrol and included three Coast Guard Vessels, two sight seeing boats, a Coast Guard helicopter and one jet. Park staff and other workers scoured the shore from Otter Cliffs to Great Head in search of the young man.
The Marine Patrol’s first diver was sent out on Tuesday morning because the waters were too dangerous on Monday and were expected to be similar on Wednesday. Within 20 minutes, the first diver had retrieved Lin’s body.
Emil’s parents had been watching Sunday from atop the cliff and saw him swept under the water. They explained he had been visiting home and was an experienced climber. Both boys were originally from Hampden, Maine.
According to Cochary, Lin’s body has since been transported to a funeral home.
