On July 18, 2018 at 8:51 p.m., the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting an unoccupied boat circling under power on Chief Lake in front of Pat’s Landing on the Chippewa Flowage. The 911 caller believed that a male had fallen out of the boat.
Sawyer County Deputies, a Wisconsin DNR Warden, LCO Police, City of Hayward Water Rescue and the Sawyer County Ambulance responded to the call at Pat’s Landing. The DNR Warden was able to make contact with the boat from another boat and gain control of the unoccupied circling boat. It was later learned that a 75 year old male left shore in the boat.
Rescue and recovery attempts continued for three hours Wednesday night. Recovery efforts resumed Thursday Morning by the Sawyer County Dive Team, Wisconsin DNR, LCO Conservation Wardens and the LCO Police Department. The deceased male was found on Chief Lake in about 29 feet of water at 10:20 a.m. by the Sawyer County Dive Team with the assistance of the Wisconsin DNR.
The 75 year old male is from Elm Grove, WI. The victim’s name is not being released at this time. The Wisconsin DNR is investigating the incident. The Sawyer County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of death.
Sheriff Douglas Mrotek
Last Update: Jul 20, 2018 7:39 am CDT
