Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin — An emergency response was initiated by many agencies in response to a boating incident that occurred on the Wisconsin River south of the Kilbourn Dam on Thursday afternoon. The event involved two individuals who were missing after their sailboat capsized.
An overturned boat that was carrying three people was the cause of the event, as reported by the Wisconsin Dells Police Department. The incident took place at approximately 4:24 p.m. EMS personnel were able to treat one individual who was able to swim to the coast. Following their submersion close to the scene of the capsizing, the other two have not been seen since.
Additionally, diving teams from Columbia and Sauk County were sent in to aid in the hunt for the missing boaters, which involved the deployment of multiple rescue boats. Diving efforts were hampered by the rapid currents and the high water flow that was caused by the Kilbourn Dam. A more comprehensive search was conducted by the authorities, which included the use of sonar-equipped boats, aerial drones, coastal teams, and underwater drones.
Overnight, search operations were halted because of worries about safety and the lack of visibility. According to the officials, the search operations will resume on Friday am, and additional resources are currently on their way.
The names of the people who have gone missing have not been made public since their families have not yet been notified.
Kilbourn Fire Department, Dells/Delton Emergency Medical Services, Columbia and Sauk County Sheriff’s Offices, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and multiple emergency management teams were among the agencies that responded to the incident.
Near high-flow areas of the river, the authorities strongly recommend that the general public stay away from the area and exercise caution.
