LEXINGTON, Mass. — Investigators say a husband and father died in a tragic accident, while chaperoning his son's Boy Scout trip.
Mike Arena was with the scouts on a white water rafting trip Saturday in Maine.
"I'm stunned, stunned. Mike is an excellent guy, a doting father," John Baron said. "I coached Little League with Mike Arena, our sons played on the same team."
Arena, 52, was thrown from the raft according to park wardens in Maine.
In the days after his death, Arena’s wife posted on Facebook.
"I am so very sad to let you know my beloved husband Michael died yesterday while on a rafting trip in Maine with our son David and members of the Lexington Boy Scout Troop 160. Thankfully many kind people were with David, kept him safe and brought him home to us. I am very grateful for the wonderful life Michael and I created and lived together."
Arena and the other members of Troop 160 were on the Dead River Saturday during a scheduled release which raised the water in the river and upgraded the rapids to Level IV.
The American Whitewater Association calls Class IV Rapids advanced saying "Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult."
A warden told FOX25 that water is released from the dam on a set schedule to create white water conditions.
He also said it's not uncommon for boats to flip, and this appears to be a tragic accident but remains under investigation.
Cox Media Group
