Three Duck Hunters Rescued After Boat Capsizes on Mississippi River

Three duck hunters survived a boat capsizing on the Mississippi River Saturday morning after their vessel overturned in the river’s main channel, WEAU reported.

The incident occurred around 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 7, near Brownsville, Minnesota, specifically on the Wisconsin side of the river. The boat, described as a 14- to 15-foot flat-bottom vessel, was being used for duck hunting when it flipped near Wildcat Park and Marina, according to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office.

Eric Lee Southard, 60, of Appleton, Wisconsin, was the operator of the boat. He told investigators that a wave of water came over the bow while he was attempting to slow, stop, or make a turn, which caused the vessel to swamp and capsize, WEAU reported.

Southard also noted that weeds or other vegetation may have become caught near the propeller, a factor that might have contributed to the accident, according to news.lastations.com.

Vernon county river rescue — Photo: wizmnews.com

When the boat overturned, Southard and two other men, ages 18 and 42, were thrown into the water. All three men were able to utilize personal flotation devices, which allowed them to remain buoyant as they drifted south in the current, according to news.lastations.com.

The rescue required a coordinated effort between multiple agencies spanning both sides of the river. The Stoddard-Bergen Fire Department arrived with a rescue boat and picked up the group as they drifted. Brownsville Fire Rescue also responded with a boat to assist in the operation, news.lastations.com reported.

The transport of the men back to shore was split between the responding units. Brownsville Fire Rescue took Southard to shore, while the Stoddard-Bergen Fire Department boat transported the other two men, according to both WEAU and wizmnews.com.

Sheriff Roy Torgerson praised the cooperation between the various agencies involved in the rescue, noting the effectiveness of the multi-jurisdictional response, according to news.lastations.com.

Three rescued after boat capsizes in Mississippi River pic.twitter.com/HdZ0gPgEH1

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The responding agencies included:

Vernon County Sheriff’s Office
Stoddard-Bergen Fire Department
Brownsville Fire and Rescue
Houston County Sheriff’s Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Emplify Health by Gundersen Ground EMS

Once the men reached Wildcat Landing, they were evaluated by Emplify Health ground EMS. While all three men were suffering from exposure due to the water, they declined transportation to a hospital, the sheriff’s office said.

The air temperature in the Brownsville area was approximately 50 degrees at the time of the incident. This temperature, combined with the river water, makes anyone caught in the current for an extended period highly likely to develop hypothermia.

Three Duck Hunters Rescued After Boat Capsizes on Mississippi River — Photo: news.lastations.com

The sheriff’s office used the incident to highlight the specific dangers faced by waterfowl hunters. Because these hunters often wear heavy clothing to stay warm, an unexpected fall into cold water can become life-threatening very quickly, according to the sheriff’s office.

Officials emphasized that wearing properly fitted personal flotation devices is a critical safety measure that likely played a major role in the survival of the three men, news.lastations.com reported.

The boat and most of the occupants’ personal property were eventually recovered and returned to shore. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service consulted with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and determined the incident did not meet the threshold for mandatory reporting, according to news.lastations.com.

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