Deaths blamed on Bill

PORTLAND, Maine – A large wave fueled by Hurricane Bill swept a group of surf-watchers into the sea at a Maine park Sunday, including a 7-year-old girl who died after the Coast Guard pulled her from the churning waters.

The girl, her father and a 12-year-old girl who were all visiting Acadia National Park were plucked from the water by rescuers. The man and the 12-year-old were hospitalized.

The three were part of an early afternoon crowd of thousands who lined the national park’s rocky shoreline to watch the high surf and crashing waves, which were “absolutely the effects of Hurricane Bill” coupled with the effect of high tide, park ranger Sonya Berger said.

The man and his daughter are from New York City, Acadia National Park Chief Ranger Stuart West said. The 12-year-old girl is from Belfast, Maine, and is not related to them, West said. He would not release their names.

The hurricane was also blamed for the death of a 54-year-old swimmer Saturday in Florida. Volusia County Beach Patrol Capt. Scott Petersohn said Angel Rosa, of Orlando, washed ashore unconscious near rough waves fueled by Bill at New Smyrna Beach, along the central Florida coast. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The center of the hurricane was about 115 miles west-northwest of Newfoundland late Sunday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and was moving east-northeast at 40 mph. The storm is expected to continue to lose strength.