Fort Fire Department participates in Lake Koshkonong water rescue

The Fort Atkinson Fire Department Thursday participated in a water rescue conducted on Lake Koshkonong. 

According to information released Friday by Fort Atkinson city officials, the department was alerted to a water rescue on Lake Koshkonong near Cow Path Lane, located six miles southwest of the city of Fort Atkinson, at 8:44 p.m. 

The release stated that initial reports noted that two subjects were in the water, with one of the subjects trapped underwater. 

As reported within the release, the Fort Atkinson Fire Department on-duty crew was immediately dispatched with an engine company and ambulance, and volunteer firefighters also were alerted.

A total of ten Fort Atkinson Fire Department volunteer firefighters and  off-duty personnel also responded to the call. 

The duty crew arrived at the shoreline near the scene at 8:53 p.m., the release stated. 

As reported in the release: “One patient had made it out of the water and had reached shore on their own. The second subject could be heard calling for help on the lake. Crews were able to make their way out onto the ice very quickly and access the subject who was clinging to the edge of the ice in a hole approximately 200 yards from shore. The patient was rescued from the water and pulled onto the ice by the initial response crew.” 

Upon arrival of the secondary units, a “rapid deployment craft” was deployed and the subject in the lake was extricated from the water and transported to shore, treated by Fort Atkinson Fire Department  paramedics, and transported to Mercy Hospital in Janesville.

While approaching the scene, the on-duty shift commander also requested a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) water rescue box, which included units from Janesville, Edgerton, Milton, Johnson Creek and Lake Mills. The request was canceled before mutual aid units arrived once both patients were accounted for and removed from the lake, the release stated. 

No firefighters were injured during the incident and both patients are expected to make a full recovery, the release noted. 

Fort Atkinson Fire Department, file photo/Kim McDarison. 

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