OAKLAND — A Massachusetts man was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon, Jan. 7, after a snowmobile he was operating broke through thin ice on Messalonskee Lake (Snow Pond) in Oakland.

Richard Dumont, 52, from North Attleboro, was riding a friend and business partner's Polaris 550 snowmobile toward the outlet of the lake when it broke through, according to the Maine Warden Service.

Witnesses who saw the incident called 911 at 2:51 p.m., causing an immediate response by Oakland Fire Department, Oakland Police Department, Maine State Police and the Maine Warden Service. Fire department personnel were able to reach Dumont with an ice rescue sled and pull him from the water, according to the Warden Service in a news release.

Delta Ambulance staff attempted to revive Dumont and he was transported to Inland Hospital in Waterville, where he was pronounced dead.

The Maine Warden Service said it will continue to investigate this incident.

“This is a tragic reminder that Maine's lakes and ponds vary widely in ice thickness and safety for snowmobilers and others who recreate on the ice. Game wardens are asking that everyone exercise extreme caution on any water body this winter season. This is Maine's second snowmobile related fatality this season,” said the release.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6655,