2 fishermen swim ashore after boat capsizes in Lake Ontario near Kendall

Photo and information courtesy of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

KENDALL – Two fishermen were able to swim ashore after their boat capsized on Sunday.

Peter Keppler, 71, of Medina and William Wittman, 44, of Albion were fishing on a 1994 fishing boat that is 26 feet long. They were about 5 miles offshore, said Sheriff Chris Bourke.

“At some point, the vessel began taking on water and the bilge pump was not functioning,” Bourke stated in a news release. “The two individuals equipped with life vests eventually ended up in the water. After being in the water for over five hours, the two individuals were able to successfully swim to shore at Knapp Shores in Kendall.”

The vessel was found partially submerged in Lake Ontario the next morning by Orleans County Sheriff Marine Division Deputies Ryan Flaherty and Jason Barnum. The vessel was found approximately 4 miles northeast of Bald Eagle Marina in the Town of Kendall near the Monroe-Orleans County line.

Orleans County Sheriff’s Marine Division was assisted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine.

“Thankfully nobody was injured during the incident, and the occupants made it to shore safely,” Bourke said. “The U.S. Coast Guard was notified of the incident and are planning to remove the vessel as it was determined to be a hazard to other boaters.”