Man Dies After Boating Accident at Saylorville Lake

A 40-year old man died after a single-boat incident on Saylorville Lake Monday afternoon.

The Polk City Fire Department received a report of three individuals thrown from a boat and in the water at around 12:23 p.m.

The report was of two children and one adult in the water between Saylorville Marina and the Mile Long Bridge, a Polk City Fire Department news release stated.

PCFD ambulance and boat crews responded to the Sandpiper boat ramp and a water rescue team met an Army Corps of Engineers board on the lake, which located the adult.

Polk County Sheriff's spokeswoman Jana Rooker told KCCI News Channel 8 that a passing sailboat spotted two children wearing life jackets floating in the water.

The 40-year-old man was not wearing a life jacket and unconscious when found.

“Our water rescue team started resuscitation efforts immediately upon arriving at the patient and continued until he was pronounced dead at the scene,” said Capt. Rich Davis, incident commander of the rescue.

The PCFD reported there was no damage to the boat, so it is not believed there was a collision. The incident is still being investigated.

The Polk City Fire Department handled the incident, assisted by Ankeny Fire Department, , Granger Fire Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Army Corps of Engineers, and Iowa Methodist Hospital and Life Flight.