Stranded fishermen rescued

KOSHKONONG - Two fishermen whose boat motor lost power on a choppy Lake Kosh­konong Sunday afternoon were rescued as their drifting watercraft took on water.

David DeMoss Sr. of Janesville and Michael Sather of Beloit became stranded when the storms began to hit the lake. They called for help via their cell phones and Fort Atkinson Fire and Rescue responded to the distress call at 2:50 p.m.

Firefighters launched their res­cue boat from the Blackhawk Boat Club at the mouth of the Rock River because the water there was calmer than on the lake, which was experiencing waves of up to four feet in some areas. A heavy rescue unit was dispatched to the end of Blackhawk Island Road, where personnel had a clear view of the lake. This unit took command and used equipment to help locate the distressed boat.

Rescue workers were at first only able to locate one boat in the area described, which was not in trouble. Mutual aid was requested from Milton Fire and Rescue, the Rock County Sheriff's Department and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office boat when the distressed boat could not be found. However, it was located before mutual aid responded.

The fishermen had kept in contact via phone with dispatch.

Fort Atkinson Fire Department Capt. Mike Reel reported that, upon rescuers' arrival, the boat was less than a foot out of the water, and had about 20 minutes left before being completely submerged. Fort Atkinson Fire and Rescue sent one swimmer into the water to attach a rope between the two watercraft, so the men - dressed only in shorts - could board the rescue boat. Both fishermen showed signs of hypothermia.

The rescue boat docked at Riverfront Resort on Blackhawk Island, where the men were attended to by fire department personnel and then checked over by Ryan Brothers Ambulance Service emergency medical technicians. Neither man was transported for further medical attention.

Their boat was left adrift. It beached itself on Loga Point while being watched by Fort Atkinson Fire and Rescue personnel.