Five Rescued from Lake Poygan

RIPON, Minn (WRPN) – Five people were rescued from Lake Poygan last night after their boat sank.

According to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 caller reported a boat fully submerged in the lake and five occupants in the water. Multiple police, fire, and emergency services agencies responded with rescue boats to several boat landings and began a search.

A 40-year-old Omro man was operating the boat, which was traveling south on Lake Poygan, when there were mechanical issues and the engine shut down. The boat began to take on water and quickly submerged.

The occupants, a man, a woman, and three children, grabbed coolers and used them for floatation devices. They were found safe hours later and brought back to shore. EMS evaluated them on the scene and released them.