Wisconsin grandfather drowns in river after saving his grandchildren

A Western Wisconsin family is mourning the drowning death of a grandfather who died trying to save his grandchild from drowning.

It happened on Saturday in Barron County in the water just below the Mikana Dam which is about 11 miles north of Rice lake. The area is around two hours from the Twin Cities.

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald says  a 71-year old man had taken his two grandchildren fishing. Both of the children had been wearing life jackets when one of them began to struggle. Their grandfather went into the water, got them to where they could stand again and the children made it back to shore.

Unfortunately, he did not make it back.

"They live right in Mikana, something he's done for ever," says Fitzgerald. "He is a local Mikana gentleman."

Fitzgerald  says if there's a water emergency, the first thing you should do is call 911.

"Everybody should call 911. Look for a rope, look for a life jacket, have a life jacket before you jump in," Fitzgerald explained. "I know it was shallow but it gets deep quickly in spots."

He adds going into the 4th of July holiday weekend, it's a grim reminder about the dangerous water conditions, and the need to wear a life jacket.

"Everybody's gonna be kayaking and swimming in our rivers, but the rivers are very high, they're very rapid, you know, they're flowing really good," Fitzgerald says. "So we want everyone to be very careful. Even if it's last year, it was, you know, only three feet deep. This year, it might be six feet deep."

The Barron County Sheriff's Department is still investigating what caused the man to drown.