Saturday Rescue on Lake Winnebago

A Fond du Lac family was rescued early Saturday during a storm on Lake Winnebago.

At approximately 1:30 a.m., the Fond du Lac County Communications Center received a 911 call from a boat in distress on Lake Winnebago.

The 34-foot-long houseboat was taking on water after a large wave knocked out the bow window, according to a press release from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department.

The boat was originally anchored on the lake north of Fond du Lac approximately one mile or so but had broken loose in the high winds and waves.

The occupants, Richard Butzen, 45, of 420 Morris St., his wife, Christina, and their two children, were asleep when the storm hit, said Sgt. Chris Dobyns.

At the time, the Fond du Lac area was experiencing 30 to 40 mph sustained winds with a peak recorded gust of 54 mph, which accompanied a thunderstorm, Dobyns said.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol and Rescue responded to the call and located the boat approximately three miles north of Fond du Lac adrift and continuing to take on water.

The occupants were safely transported back to the Fond du Lac harbor, and the boat was towed in at the time as well.

Source: Fond du Lac Reporter