The operator was attempting to pull up the anchor when he pulled on the rope, lost his balance and fell into the water.  He may have tripped on a throwable seat cushion.  Witnesses were riding bikes across the dam and saw an unoccupied boat approximately 50 feet from the shore of the dam.  As they got past it, they heard a subject asking for help and observed a white male in the water holding on to the side of the boat.  The victim was trying to swim to shore using the boat to keep himself afloat.  One witness ran to nearby fishermen and had them call 911.  As the victim got closer to shore, the witnesses were able to pull him all the way in.  They removed his wet clothes, one gave the victim his clothes to warm him up until rescue arrived.  The victim was hospitalized for two nights for treatment of hypothermia.
Shabbona                      