HALLOWELL, Maine – A man who was drowning in a Maine river is recovering after someone reeled him in with a fishing rod.

Bob Greene of Hallowell says he heard what he thought was a bird early Thursday as he was having his morning coffee. He then realized there was a man bobbing in the Kennebec River.

He says a 911 dispatcher told him to throw something to the man. He snagged the man's shirt with a fishing lure and reeled him in.

The rescued man is in critical condition at a Portland hospital.

Hallowell Police Chief Eric Nason says Greene did the right thing by calling police first and not jumping into the water.