One student is dead and another missing after an Iowa State University rowing club boat capsized on Little Wall Lake on Sunday.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to the Washington Examiner that it received a 911 call at 9:27 a.m. on Sunday morning, reporting five individuals in the water. The university separately confirmed the accident in a news release, saying the three rescued students were treated and released on Sunday from Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Divers recovered the body of the deceased student, and a search for the fifth continues.
Authorities searched for the student until nightfall on Sunday, when it was called off. The search for the remaining missing student resumed on Monday morning.
“We’ve also had several heroes that live in the buildings out here, came out and help the individuals,” Hamilton County Sheriff Douglas Timmons said. He added that “this could have been a lot worse than what it is, what it’s going to be.”
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“The Iowa State community is heartbroken to learn of this tragic accident at Little Wall Lake,” University President Wendy Wintersteen said in a statement. “At this time, we are focused on providing support to club members, their families and friends. We ask that everyone keep them in their thoughts during this very difficult time.”
Neither the university nor the sheriff’s office have identified the students involved. The sheriff’s office said it will not do so “until the families can be properly notified.”
Likely bad news from my front yard. Boat capsized in Little Wall Lake, and from what I have noticed & heard on scanner, 5 people went in the water, and only 3 have come out/been rescued. Search operations underway. Here was my Facebook live as it started. https://t.co/r3TWeuIHk9
— Roger Fritz ???? (@rogerfritz) March 28, 2021
Conditions were reportedly rough at the time of the accident, with the wind blowing at about 20 to 25 mph when the rowers were on the lake, according to former Roland, Iowa, Mayor Roger Fritz, who lives near the lake. The surface of the lake is visibly rough in a Facebook video filmed by Fritz.
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The rowing team, called the Iowa State Crew Club, was founded in 2002, according to its university webpage. Little Wall Lake is one of two of its listed practice locations.
