Washington Co., Wi – On Sunday afternoon at 12:46PM, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies, the Jackson Fire Department and the Wisconsin DNR responded to a report of a missing hunter in the Jackson Marsh.
The man, identified as a 71-year-old Village of Richfield man, had contacted his wife by cell phone to say he was lost while pheasant hunting. The man is a Type 1 diabetic and was experiencing low blood sugar and was unsure of his location.
Washington County Emergency Communications Officers were able to reach man by phone and used mapping technology, including the What3Words app to pinpoint his position—nearly 1,900 feet into extremely challenging marsh terrain, much of it knee-deep water.
A Sheriff’s Office drone was also deployed to confirm the victim’s location.
Rescuers, including two Deputies, a DNR Warden, and two Jackson Fire Paramedics, trekked through the marsh for about 30 minutes before locating the man and his dog.
After Jackson Paramedics administered oral glucose and ensured his blood sugar stabilized, the team evaluated multiple options to extricate the man from the marsh. Ultimately the only feasible option was to assist the man in walking out. The effort that took more than an hour through the difficult terrain.
The man declined further medical transport and was later reunited with his wife.
“This rescue highlights how collaboration, training, and technology can make all the difference when time is of the essence,” said Sheriff Martin Schulteis. “I’m extremely thankful for all of the first responders who worked together to bring this situation to a safe and successful conclusion.”