KEWAUNEE CO, WI (WTAQ) – The U.S. Coast Guard has decided to suspend the search for a missing fisherman identified as 38-year-old Mark Wautelet.
After twenty hours of searching both in the air and on water, the search for 38-year-old Mark Wautelet was ended without a rescue.
Leanne Lusk was the Coast Guard Coordinator for the Search and Rescue.
She says multiple factors led to the decision, but water temperatures played a big role.
“They were reading temperatures at 50 degrees, so super cold water.”
Lusk says at those temperatures, survivability decreases. They also spent time looking at other factors.
“First is the size of the individual. We look at duration, type of weather and water currents.”
The Coast Guard searched a total of 425 square miles.
“In this case, we had an immense amount of resources,” Lusk added.
The U.S Coast Guard searched with multiple boats along with two MH-60 helicopters, and assistance from multiple departments.
Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski says they are working closely with family, but incidents like this are tough for small communities.
“Family is our primary concern, but community as well because we are a very close community, and this is going to touch a lot.”
Kewaunee County sheriff’s deputies were called just before 11:00 Wednesday night and were told a boater, left to go fishing from Kewaunee Harbor Wednesday afternoon.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew later spotted the boat on the shoreline, but no one was on board.
Wautelet is approximately 6-feet tall, weighs 270 pounds and has brownish hair.
The DNR will now take over the recovery mission.
