3 boaters rescued from sinking boat on Lake Mendota

Boat sank around 11:20 a.m. off shore of Governor's Island, deputies say

MADISON, Wis. — Three boaters were rescued on Lake Mendota when their boat sank Sunday morning, according to a release.

Around 11:20 a.m. Dane County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a sinking boat with three occupants in the water, officials said. A 1976 tri-hull motor boat started taking on water and sank approximately 150 yards off the shore of Governor’s Island.

The 15-foot boat was near vertical with the motor resting on the bottom of the lake in 13 feet of water, deputies said. The three people on board were rescued from the lake by a nearby boater.

Mark Tanke, from Edgerton, and his passenger David Flaherty, from Madison, saw the boat sink and rescued the boaters from the water, according to the release. The three rescued boaters were not wearing life jackets, and one was not able to swim.

The deputies towed the sunken boat to the Warner Park boat launch.