The body of 33-year-old man has been recovered from the waters of Lake Mendota, officials in Dane County reported.
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement the body was found just before 1 p.m. on Sept. 2.
What happened to the man?
The man was reported missing on Sept. 1 at 5:40 p.m.
Crews searched the Warner Bay area until 8 p.m. that day, but were unable to locate him. Authorities then used divers, sonar and an underwater drone as part of their recovery effort the next day, the statement said.
The man’s name was not released.
“Our hearts are with the family and friends of this young man,” Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in the statement. “Losing a loved one in such a sudden and tragic way is heartbreaking.”
How safe is Lake Mendota?
Lake Mendota is the largest of Madison’s lakes, bordering James Madison Park and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s memorial union.
In July, the body of a middle-aged man was pulled from the lake.
A passerby told University of Wisconsin-Madison police about the body spotted around 50 feet offshore near the school’s Memorial Union, according to police.
No signs of foul play were seen, police said in a statement.
Here’s how to stay safe on the water
The Wisconsin DNR offers the following safety tips:
Always wear your life jacket. A properly fitted and fastened life jacket will keep you on top of the water if you walk off an unexpected drop-off, a wave or current overpower you or you fall out of a boat.
Stay sober. Alcohol blurs a person’s judgment, reaction time and abilities. Know your limits.
Know your depths. River shorelines and sandbars pose unseen dangers. Higher, fast-moving water can tax an individual’s boating, paddling and swimming skills.
Keep one eye on the sky. Be aware of changes in the weather.
Plan ahead. Create a float plan and tell people when and where you plan to depart and return before going for a float or paddle.
Learn more about watersport safety on the DNR’s Boat Safety webpage. You can also sign up here to take an online boater education course.
Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 33-year-old man’s body is the second to be pulled from Lake Mendota since July
Reporting by Chris Ramirez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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