Five members of the intercollegiate rowing team\u00a0were practicing at Little Wall Lake\u00a0when their boat capsized, according to a university news release.
Two Iowa State Crew Club members died after their boat capsized on Little Wall Lake Sunday in cold and windy conditions that the Hamilton County sheriff said made the lake “pretty rough.” The names of the crew team members, which include three students who were rescued from the choppy water with help from people being hailed as heroes, had not been released by Monday afternoon. University officials said Monday they had launched an investigation into the tragedy. The five members of the intercollegiate rowing team were practicing at the lake when their boat capsized, according to a university news release. Three of the students were treated and released from Mary Greeley Medical Center, officials said. The body of one student was recovered Sunday, and search crews found the body of the second missing student Monday morning, Hamilton County Sheriff Douglas Timmons confirmed during a news conference. “The Iowa State community is heartbroken to learn of this tragic accident,“ university president Wendy Wintersteen said in a statement Sunday. „At this time, we are focused on providing support to club members, their families and friends. We ask that everyone keep them in their thoughts during this very difficult time.“ In her statement, Wintersteen thanked local law enforcement, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Mary Greeley Medical Center and other community members for their response and search efforts. People living near the lake helped save the three surviving students, Timmons said. Speaking to media Sunday evening, the sheriff said the accident „could have been a lot worse than what it is“ without those civilians, whom he called „heroes.“ The accident happened on the south side of the lake around 9:30 a.m., said Roger Fritz, the former mayor of Roland who lives on the west side of Little Wall Lake. One student swam to the south shore, one swam to the north shore and another was rescued by a kayak and transferred to a Stratford Fire boat, Fritz tweeted Sunday. „I’m guessing they probably got swamped in some heavier waves,“ Fritz said Sunday. „Those crew boats are really shallow.” ISU police are working with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies in the investigation, according to an ISU news release. The university will also conduct an internal review of policies and procedures related to this incident, the release said. Little Wall Lake is in Hamilton County, about 2 miles south of Jewell and around 15 miles north of Ames. Wind speeds were as high as 28 mph in Ames on Sunday, with gusts reaching up to 39 mph, according to the National Weather Service. What we know: Two Iowa State crew club members dead after rowing accident on Little Wall Lake Windy conditions were of concern as authorities resumed the search for the second student found Monday, Timmons said.
