THE CITY REBORN FROM THE ASHES OF AMERICA'S MOST DISASTROUS FOREST FIRE
Three Area Hunters Rescued After Canoe/Kayak Overturns
Issue Date: November 5, 2020
Three area duck hunters are lucky to be alive after a canoe and kayak they were in capsized in the bay of Green Bay off Harbor Road in the Town of Peshtigo, early Sunday morning Nov.1. The Town of Peshtigo Fire Department was paged out for the rescue at 5:30 am according to Fire Chief Mike One of the hunters was lucky to have a cell phone that worked and alerted Marinette County Dispatch. Dispatchers tried to keep the hunter on the phone but poor reception in that area made that difficult. The dispatchers maintained contact with the victims and guided rescuers to their location. Folgert said, "The dispatchers were the key to the whole operation, without them who knows what could have happened."
Firefighters were told three men were in the water approximately 300 yards off shore. Once on scene the fire department deployed their RDC craft and boat. Marinette County Sheriff's Deputy Brad Wyss and Peshtigo Police Officer Steve Kessler arrived on scene to help firefighters located the hunters. Chief Folgert also called the Marinette Fire Department for assistance with their rescue boat. One of the hunters was wearing a headlamp which help with locating them in the dark.
Once the hunters were located firefighters went to retrieve the men. Strong winds and a strong current at the mouth of the river hindered rescuers. Two of the men were found huddled together standing on a sandbar they located. Their waders were full of water and the men were possibly hypothermic. The other hunter was lucky to find a rock pile he could stand on. Once rescuers were close to the hunters Town of Peshtigo firefighter Derek Monnette, jumped into the water to assist both victims into the boat. Firefighter Darius Dohl, jumped into the water to secure the last hunter.
Once the hunters were brought back to shore, Emergency Rescue Squad personnel and paramedics from Aurora Bay Area Medical transported the men to the hospital. All victims had low body temperatures due to the cold water.
Also assisting at the scene were wardens from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.