Water Rescue

DRUMMOND - On 5-21-19 at 1:19pm Bayfield County 911 Communications Center received a call from Mr. Ulrich reporting there was a man in the water near a boat about 70 yards from shore at the south end of Perch Lake Campground, township of Drummond. Ulrich said the boat sank and the male was conscious and floating in the water but was not wearing a personal floatation device. Bayfield County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Mika was the first emergency responder to arrive on scene; he immediately put on his personal floatation device and then entered the water. Deputy Mika swam to the victim who was was laying in the boat which was almost submerged except for a few inches of the bow. The victim advised Deputy Mika that he was weak, couldn’t move, and was stiff. Deputy Mika pulled the boat anchor out of the water and placed it in the boat. With his left hand, Deputy Mika pushed the boat back to shore while swimming with his right hand and legs. The victim was attended to by paramedics of the Great Divide Ambulance and transported to Memorial Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. The victim was a resident of Grand View, WI, and his name is not being released at this time. Also responding to the scene was Drummond Fire and Rescue, Iron River Fire and a WI Dept. of Natural Resources Warden.