Madison windsurfer hit by UW lifesaving boat, killed

Windsurfing craft checked out from Hoofers at UW

Site staff by Site Contributor

A 43-year-old Madison man was killed Wednesday when he was struck by a University of Wisconsin Lifesaving Station boat while he was windsurfing, according to a news release from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were called at 5:45 p.m. to the UW Lifesaving Station at 144 E. Gilman St. on a report of a collision on Lake Mendota.

“It was just an extremely tragic incident last evening on our lake,” Sheriff David Mahoney said. “It was a beautiful evening but ended with tragedy.”

Mahoney said there were three people on the rescue boat, and they tried to help the victim, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The University of Wisconsin confirmed Thursday afternoon that the windsurfing craft had been checked out from the Hoofer Sailing Club at the Memorial Union. The windsurfer’s name hasn’t been released pending notification of his family.

The UW also confirms the rescue launch from the UW Lifesaving Station was returning from responding to a rescue call. The station, which is part of the UW Division of Facilities Planning and Management, provides safety operations for the UW campus. The service works closely with the Hoofer Sailing Club and Outdoor UW, both located at the Memorial Union.

The UW says both Outdoor UW and the Hoofer Sailing Club are closed Thursday, but expect to reopen Friday.

An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday. The dive team returned to the water Thursday to recover additional evidence from the collision.

“We’re still in the midst of a very tragic incident and a very lengthy investigation,” Mahoney said.

The incident remains under investigation by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators are asking witnesses to contact them at 608-284-6900.

UW students who need counseling or crisis support because of this incident are asked to call University Health Services at 608-265-5600. Faculty or staff who need to talk with someone are asked to call the Employee Assistance Office at 608-263-2987 or visit www.eao.wisc.edu.

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