Search Now In 4th Day For Missing Canoeist In Fox Lake

The search continues into a 4th day for a missing Fox Lake area man who was one of two canoeists that capsized in Fox Lake Thursday (4/21/2022).

REVISED AS OF 5:00 P.M. SATURDAY 4/23/2022

The search for the missing Fox Lake man was halted again on Saturday due to high winds, making things difficult for dive teams to safely navigate the Fox Lake waters.

Sheriff Dale Schmidt said search operations were called off around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and also said the search will continue Sunday, weather-permitting.

The identities of the two canoeists has not yet been released.

REVISED AS OF 12:00 P.M. FRIDAY 4/22/2022

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, Beaver Dam Fire Department Dive Team, Campbellsport Fire Department Dive Team, Fox Lake Fire Department, Waupun Fire Department, Campbellsport Fire Department, Hustisford Fire Department, and the Department of Natural Resources conducted an extensive search of Fox Lake until sunset on Thursday evening.  Unfortunately, the male subject has not yet been located and is considered missing at this time.  The female subject was treated and released from the hospital Thursday evening.

Search operations continue, however, due to impending weather, and the safety of divers, a full-scale search is not possible today.  Full search operations will resume as soon as it is deemed safe by dive teams.

No further information will be available in this incident at this time and we will update the public as more information becomes available.

ORIGINAL UPDATE THURSDAY 4/21/2022

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office was notified shortly before 12:30 PM on Thursday of a canoe that had capsized, with two people in the water, yelling for help, near the north shore of Fox Lake.  

Deputies arrived at the scene and were able to determine at least one person was above the water, but a second victim could not be seen.  A rural Fox Lake female was recovered from the water and transported to an area hospital for treatment.  

An active search remains underway for the missing adult male.    

The Town of Fox Lake boat launch on Blackhawk Trail is currently being used as a command post and staging area and public access to that landing is restricted.

Conditions on the lake were not suitable for canoe or kayak use due to high winds and neither occupant was wearing a personal floatation device (PFD).

Assisting the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Fox Lake Police Department, WI Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Wardens, Fox Lake Fire Department and EMS, Beaver Dam Fire Department and Paramedics, the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and the Campbellsport Fire Department Dive Team.  

KFIZ’s Breaking News Editor Doug Raflik was on the scene but no additional information was made available at this time.