November 4, 2011
By Kristen Zambo, JournalTimes.com
ROCHESTER - One hunter was taken to the hospital Friday after a
boat started sinking in the Wind Lake drainage canal, authorities
said.
Racine County Sheriff's deputies responded to the canal near
highways 20 and
36 in Rochester at about 6:15 a.m. Friday for a report of boaters in
distress, according to a press release from the Racine County
Sheriff's Office.
Hunters Martin R. Schutte and Bryan E. Klien were navigating
toward east of Beck Drive when the small boat began taking on water,
deputies reported.
Schutte and Klien got out of the boat and headed ashore when Schutte
became stuck in deep mud, the release said. Klien and his dog, Cash,
were able to free Schutte and get him ashore but Schutte dislocated
his knee during the process.
"It's not going to be very deep (there), but if you're in the
water you're going to have a tough time getting out. (It is) weedy
and mucky," Sheriff's Lt. Tom Lamke explained.
It remained unknown Friday why the boat started sinking,
according to authorities.
The hunters were located with the help of a Channel 12 News
helicopter, deputies said. The Rochester Fire Co. utilized a
six-wheel ATV to rescue the hunters and Schutte was transported to
Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington for treatment, the release
said.
Racine County Water Rescue was able to recover the boat and all
the men's hunting gear, the release said.
The Waterford Fire Department and the state Department of Natural
Resources also assisted with the incident.
The men had followed all boating and hunting regulations and no
citations were issued, the release said.
