Recovery Efforts Continue For Man Who Went Missing On Lac La Belle

OCONOMOWOC, WI — The search for a man who went missing on Lac La Belle Thursday evening continued into Friday. Efforts were expected to continue into the weekend.

The rescue mission for the man has now turned into a recovery, WLFD said in a statement Friday evening. The boat launch and the lake will be closed Saturday, the agency said.

The man was swimming in an area northwest of Islandale and southwest of Buzzard Point on the lake, according to a statement from the Western Lakes Fire District. Waukesha County authorites received a call reporting the possible drowning just after 7 p.m. Rescue efforts were called in, including firefighters from Western Lakes Fire District and dive teams from around the region.

Authorites used sonar, divers, and multiple types of drones to look for the swimmer, the WLFD said. The initial search was called off around 11 p.m. on Thursday. Crews began searching again around 7 a.m. Friday with 10 boats equipped with sonar.

The Waukesha County Sheriff's Office is now leading dive operations.

"Our thoughts are with the family and community," WLFD said in its statement Thursday night.

The boat launch at City Beach in Oconomowoc was closed until further notice amid the investigation and search.