▶ Watch Video: 3 children die after boat capsizes on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin
Three children who died when a boat capsized on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin amid a sudden storm last week were found inside the sunken vessel, police said.
Seven people were rescued along with the three children who died when a strong storm blew into Walworth County Friday, causing the boat to take on water, capsize and eventually sink, the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency said.
Police said their investigation found that the 25-foot 2024 Nautique P25 boat, which has a maximum capacity of 19 passengers, was being operated by a 47-year-old man with extensive boat experience. There were nine more passengers on board: a 75-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman, a 49-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman, a 12-year-old boy, a 10-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy.
The passengers were from Batavia and Wheaton in Illinois and Fontana, Wisconsin, police said. Investigators said all of the children on board were wearing life jackets.
In a GoFundMe page, family members identified the victims as 6-year-old Caleb and 7-year-old Abigail Oswald. Family members said “Caleb had the sweetest heart and a smile that could brighten anyone’s day” and “Abigail was full of personality and had the quickest wit of anyone we knew.”
“While our hearts are broken beyond words, we want their legacy to be one of hope, compassion, and helping others,” Family members said in a written statement.
Police said when the storm hit, the captain tried to find safe harbor but when he couldn’t, he turned into the wind. The boat was struck by at least two large waves, causing it to take on a significant amount of water and to roll, capsizing the boat and sending all 10 people on board into the water. After capsizing, police said the boat quickly sank.
Another boat called 911 immediately, and emergency responders rescued seven people from the water, but not the 10-, 7- or 6-year-olds. Divers eventually found the sunken boat in about 32 feet of water, and the three missing children were found inside.
The divers freed the children and brought them to the surface, performing lifesaving measures as they were taken to the hospital, but all three died, police said.
Police said their preliminary investigation found no external injuries, and the preliminary cause of death is drowning.
Police said the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
