MILTON TOWNSHIP — Four kayakers escaped after overturning Friday in the icy waters of Storrs Lake near Milton, with two of them being transported to a Janesville hospital.
According to a news release, Lakeside Fire-Rescue and the Rock County Sheriff’s Office were sent by the Rock County 911 Center about 5:40 p.m. Friday for a reported water rescue at Storrs Lake in the Town of Milton.
A bystander contacted 911 after hearing calls for help and seeing four people in the water about 100 meters from shore.
The group had been kayaking when their kayak overturned, leaving them in the water, according to the news release. All four occupants were wearing life jackets and were attempting to swim back to shore.
By the time fire crews arrived on scene, all four kayakers had safely made it out of the water.
Two of them evaluated and transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Janesville with non-life-threatening injuries.
Lakeside Fire-Rescue said the incident serves as a reminder that although the ice has receded, water temperatures remain extremely cold and can lead to hypothermia within minutes.
Wearing life jackets significantly increases the chances of survival, and responders were encouraged to see the group in this incident were properly equipped.
This marks the third water rescue in the past 36 days.