IA DNR: Keokuk Brothers Escape Injury When Boat Sinks

KEOKUK — A pair of Keokuk brothers were rescued from the Mississippi River on Monday afternoon after the fishing boat they were operating was swamped.

Twin brothers Terry and Gary Lovell, 65, were operating a commercial fishing net from the bow of their boat on Pool 19 of the Mississippi River when a wave swept over the vessel filling it with water. The brothers were rescued by a boat from a nearby marina, checked by an ambulance crew at the scene and declined any further treatment.

DNR Conservation Officer Joe Fourdyce said having the weight of the two men in the bow of the boat when it hit the wave caused the vessel to fill with water and serves as a reminder for boaters to be conscious of weight distribution particularly in rough waters.

Fourdyce said there were rough conditions on the Mississippi River at the time of the incident between 1 and 1:30 p.m. Monday. The boat was full of water with only the outboard motor visible Monday afternoon. Recovery efforts on the boat were underway Monday.

The Lovells were wearing life preservers when rescued, but had put them on after the boat started taking water, said Fourdyce.

As the boating season in begins, DNR Boating Education Coordinator Susan Stocker urges boaters to be conscious of safety when taking to the water.

“This was a fortunate situation. Often times an emergency occurs on the water when the participants don’t have time to put their life jackets on. It is imperative that life jackets be worn at all times because it is impossible to anticipate when an emergency will occur,” Stocker said.

Stocker also said boaters should be particularly conscious of weather and water conditions early in the season.

“The weather conditions can change very quickly this time of year. With high water conditions, we also see more debris in the water,” Stocker said.

For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.