*UPDATE: One of the boaters was found dead. More information here*
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (WFRV) – After a boat capsized Thursday afternoon on the Wisconsin River, leaving two boaters missing, authorities had to cancel their search due to the river’s high flow, but search efforts will continue Friday.
According to the Wisconsin Dells Police Department, authorities were called to the Wisconsin River, south of the Kilbourn Dam, around 4:25 p.m. on April 3 after reports of a boat that had capsized.
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Officers say that three people were on the boat at the time of its capsizing. However, one person was able to swim safely to shore and was treated and evaluated at the scene.
The two other boaters were not seen after disappearing under the water.
Multiple rescue boats and dive teams were immediately called in to begin searching for the two missing boaters.
Unfortunately, due to the reportedly high flow of water from the Kilbourn Dam and the fast-moving currents, the divers were not able to dive and search for the missing boaters. As additional resources arrived, boats with sonar capabilities, aerial drones, shoreline searches, and an underwater drone were also deployed.
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The search was ultimately suspended for the safety of search crews due to darkness and the unpredictable flow of the river. It was noted that search efforts will continue Friday morning with additional resources.
The Wisconsin Dells Police Department was assisted by the following agencies:
- Columbia County Dive Team
- Columbia County Emergency Management
- Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
- Dells/Delton EMS
- Delton Fire Department
- Kilbourn Fire Department
- Lake Delton Police Department
- Sauk County Dive Team
- Sauk County Emergency Management
- Sauk County Sheriff’s Office
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
No additional information was provided. Local 5 will provide an update to this story once more details are released.
