Deer Hunter Saved From Fond du Lac River After Kayak Gets Stuck

The Lamartine Fire Department, Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and City Of Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue combined forces to rescue a deer hunter that was stranded in the Fond du Lac River after his kayak got stuck in the ice.

At 7:39 AM Saturday, November 19, 2022, emergency responders were called to the area of the Eldorado Marsh, north of the Mascoutin State Park Trail near County Highway OOO and County Highway I for a report of a kayak that went under the water and a man that was in the water unable to make it out.

Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s deputies were first on the scene and found the 27-year-old Waupaca man to be about 75 to 100 yards off the trail standing at the edge of the water in some cat tails.

Lamartine Fire Department members used their inflatable raft and a three man water rescue team to make their way out to the man, breaking through ice as they made their way.

At 8:20 AM, the fire department members reached the man and got him in the raft and started making their way to a waiting City of Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue ambulance.

By 8:27 AM the man was out of the river and in the ambulance and appeared to be in good condition, talking to rescuers as he was loaded in the ambulance. He was transported to SSM/St. Agnes Hospital for hypothermia and exposure to the icy waters.

Lamartine Firefighters then returned to the water to retrieve the hunters kayak and hunting gear.

See a photo gallery of the rescue here