WAUSAU, WI — U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Wisconsin Republican and candidate for governor, swam to safety Saturday night after the small plane he was traveling in made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau.
Tiffany said the plane lost power while approaching Wausau Downtown Airport after he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner. The pilot, identified as 73-year-old Leonard Boltz, made the emergency water landing, and both men exited the aircraft after it began to sink, according to media reports.
"After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to submerge, we exited the aircraft and swam to a shallow area, where we waited until emergency responders reached us by boat," he said in a statement on his campaign's Facebook page.
Both men were taken to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for further evaluation, according to the Wausau Fire Department.
"I was released from the hospital last night after receiving stitches above my right eye, and the pilot was also released. We thank God that neither of us suffered more serious injuries after the plane we were traveling in lost power," Tiffany said Sunday.
The submerged aircraft was marked with a buoy, and authorities asked boaters to stay away from the area.
The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to investigate the incident, with the National Transportation Safety Board potentially joining depending on the aircraft's damage assessment.
Tiffany said he was grateful to the pilot and first responders who helped get him and Boltz safely off the water.
"I want to express my deepest gratitude to the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and all of the first responders who came to our aid so quickly," he said. "They got us safely off the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care. Thankfully, both the pilot and I sustained only minor injuries."
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