Boaters found the man’s body Sunday downstream of the Prairie du Sac Dam between Mazomanie and Arena. First responders searched and found the body.
The man had gone missing near the dam Saturday morning. He had swum out into the river with his wife to rescue their three children who were wearing life jackets but were floating too far away.
The mother and three children were able to make it to shore, but the father did not.
According to the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, the coroner’s office ruled the death an accidental drowning.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports the man’s name was not immediately released.
The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of the family struggling in the river shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday. Emergency responders searched for the father Saturday.
Sauk County Sheriff Chief Deputy Jeffrey Spencer said that area of the river is “very dangerous” because of rushing water from the dam and undercurrents. Conditions are not unusual for this time of year, he added.
The Sauk County Dive/Rescue Team, the state Department of Natural Resources, the Sauk County City Fire Department, Prairie Du Sac Fire Department, Sauk Prairie Emergency Medical Services and the Sauk Prairie Police Department helped with the initial search.
Alliant Energy also assisted by controlling the water flow below the dam to make the search easier.
