On Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 7:24pm, the Fond du Lac County Communications Center
received a call from a female who said she and a friend were stuck in the Rock River after
capsizing their kayaks. Both females were stuck in downed timber and unable to rescue
themselves due to the swift moving current. The dispatcher who took the emergency call was
able to quickly gather the female’s location and guided a Sheriff’s Sergeant who happened to be
in the area of the call to their location. They were found just north of Hwy 49 near Church Rd.
in the Township of Waupun. Waupun Police Department, LifeStar Ambulance, and Waupun
Fire Departments were also sent to aid as both females where struggling to stay above the water.
The Sheriff’s Office Sergeant located the first female, a 40 year old Beaver Dam woman. He
noticed a good Samaritan was already in the water trying to keep her above the water line. The
Sergeant entered the water and used water rescue equipment from his squad car to keep afloat
both persons and pull them to shore. Waupun Fire Department was able to navigate the swift
moving water and reach the other female, a 52 year old Waupun woman. She was quickly freed
from the downed tree and brought to shore. Both female’s where uninjured and their kayaks
were recovered from the river.
“We would like to thank the good Samaritan who selflessly stepped in to aid law enforcement in
this hazardous incident. It is also important to thank the community members who donated the
water rescue equipment used in this event. Each one of our patrol fleet vehicles are outfitted
with such safety equipment because of the generosity of our community. This call for service
shows what great things can be accomplished when our citizens and emergency services work
together.” Lieutenant Nick Kahnke, Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office
