Two Kosciusko County hunters survive after boat sinks on Webster Lake

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. --- A hunter is hospitalized with severe hypothermia after his boat sank on Webster Lake on Saturday morning.

Kosciusko County Dispatch Center were contacted after an unauthorized entry to a home on the lake around 11:16 a.m.

Trenton Stackhouse, 27, of Milford and Darick Stiles, 27, of Warsaw, were on Webster Lake to waterfowl hunt near Epworth Forest, according to the DNR.

Large waves overtook their boat and it began to sink, the DNR said. Stackhouse and Stiles were unable to get their lifejackets and used waterfowl decoys and a floating gun case to swim several hundred yards to shore in frigid temperatures.

Stackhouse was unresponsive due to severe hypothermia when the pair got to shore. Stiles went into an unoccupied house for shelter to save Stackhouse, according to the DNR.

North Webster Police Department, North Webster Fire Department, North Webster EMS, and Indiana Conservation Officers responded to the incident.

Indiana Conservation Officers said state law requires life jackets to be accessible and in good condition and reminded the public to plan for severe environmental conditions.

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