The Pierre Fire Department Rescue Squad and Dive Team was dispatched to a report of an unoccupied boat under power on lower Lake Oahe at approximately 10:21 am on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.
Upon arrival rescue witnessed a fishing boat that was under power and motoring in a circle with no occupant on board. The boat was eventually stopped and returned to shore.
Rescue squad started a scan and grid search in the area the boat was noted. Scanning showed a location of interest in approximately 20 feet of water. The Pierre Dive Team deployed a diver and did recover a deceased adult male.
The adult male who was recovered was not from the Pierre area and showed a Sioux Falls address on record.
The incident continues to be under investigation. Also assisting with the recovery was the South Dakota Dept. of Game Fish & Parks, Hughes County Sheriff’s office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Pierre Rescue covers land and water rescue for a large portion of our area.