Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 6:11 PM
Linton – Anthony K. Genson, 50, of Merom, Indiana capsized his 14-foot aluminum fishing boat on Wampler Lake. Mr. Genson was wearing a life jacket and was able to swim to the safety of a nearby island. Mr. Genson was brought to shore by Indiana Conservation Officer Mike Gregg and Greene County resident Chris Corbin.
Mr. Genson had yelled for help and caught the attention of a Good Samaritan on shore. The Good Samaritan drove to the Old School House Trading Post and notified the owner, Chris Corbin. Mr. Corbin brought a boat to Wampler Lake where he was met by Indiana Conservation Officer Mike Gregg. The two went out to the island and brought Mr. Genson to shore. He was wet and cold but was uninjured.
Mr. Genson stated that if he had not been wearing a life jacket he did not believe he would have survived. Water conducts heat away from a body 25 times faster than air. The water temperature was in the low 50’s.
Mr. Genson’s boat went down in 25 feet of water. However, ICO Gregg and Mr. Corbin pulled the boat up from the bottom by a rope that had floated up which was tied to the boat. Some fishing equipment and a trolling motor battery were lost.
According to Mr. Genson’s statements, he had stood up in the rear corner of the boat when it began to quickly take on water.
Wampler Lake is in Greene Sullivan State Forest, approximately 3 miles southwest of Linton, in Greene County. The incident occurred at approximately 3:00 p.m. today.
The registration on Mr. Genson’s boat was found to be expired since 1993. He was issued a citation for Failure to Register a Motorboat.
SOURCE: Indiana DNR Law Enforcement