On Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 2:36pm the Barron County 911 Center received a 911 call of an adult male that had went into the water below the Mikana Dam to help a child struggling in the water. The kids had gotten safely out but the male was unaccounted for.
Deputies from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department along with the Birchwood Fire Department, Marshfield Medical Center Ambulance, Rice Lake Fire Department, North Memorial Air Care Helicopter and the WI DNR all responded to the scene. After a search of the area for the 71 year old male was unsuccessful, the Chetek Fire Dive and Rescue Team was called in to assist. The Mikana Dam was also closed and during their search of the area the male was recovered by the dive team and was found to be deceased.
Initial investigation shows the male subject (Grandpa) had taken his 2 grandkids fishing and swimming in the area. Both kids were wearing life jackets when one of them started to struggle. Grandpa went in to help the kids, got them to where they could stand again and they made it to shore. For an unknown reason the male went under and drowned.
