The Sheboygan Fire Department has released more details on the drowning of a 13-year-old boy at the Jaycee Quarry Park.
Crews were initially dispatched to the popular swimming spot at 2:10 Tuesday afternoon after a witness reported that a swimmer had gone underwater and was no longer visible.
The Division 113 Dive Team was immediately dispatched, and within six minutes of receiving the call, were in the water.
A coordinated search was conducted around the area, but the teen was not located.
After around 90 minutes of unsuccessful searching, the incident was transitioned into a recovery operation.
The DNR provided specialized underwater drones and the Milwaukee Fire Department deployed sonar equipment to assist.
However, the search was halted when visibility and diver safety became an issue.
The search was resumed at 7:00 Wednesday morning with assistance from numerous agencies, including dive teams from Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Calumet Counties.
After over four more hours of searching, the victim was located at 11:50 a.m. in roughly 40 feet of water near where he was last seen.
His name is not being released at this time.
Fire Chief Montellano explained that the location “had remained a high-priority area and was inaccessible to other technologies due to topography and obstacles under the water.”
He also encouraged everyone to prioritizer water safety by wearing U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets, never swim alone, and remain in designated swimming area.
The Sheboygan Fire Department was also aided by the Sheboygan Department of Public Works, the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department, the Green Bay Police Department, K9 search teams, and Chaplains from the Sheboygan Fire and Police Departments.
