BRODHEAD - Two Milwaukee men were rescued from Sugar River Park Sunday, following a three-hour search involving rescue personnel from Brodhead, and Rock and Green counties.
The men, Fue Long Thao, 23, and his father, Nhia Cha Thao, 60, were with two friends who were hunting squirrel in land adjacent to the swampy, wooded park when the hunters left and the pair became lost just after 6:30 p.m., officials said.
Afraid to cross the swollen river, they dialed 911 and the search was on.
Using GPS coordinates from the phone as a starting point, deputies began searching with spotlights and signaling with emergency lights. They also used sirens and emergency lights in an attempt to pinpoint their location.
"That section of the river winds back and forth and if you are not familiar with the area, you can think you are trapped," said Rock County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jude Maurer, adding that the father and son were eventually found on the north side of the river. "The men became disoriented and were unable to navigate their way out of the woods on their own due to darkness, dense foliage, high waters, and unfamiliarity with the area."
They were eventually rescued at about 9:30 p.m. by Brodhead EMS personnel using a jon boat.
The men were uninjured and no citations were issued.
The men, Fue Long Thao, 23, and his father, Nhia Cha Thao, 60, were with two friends who were hunting squirrel in land adjacent to the swampy, wooded park when the hunters left and the pair became lost just after 6:30 p.m., officials said.
Afraid to cross the swollen river, they dialed 911 and the search was on.
Using GPS coordinates from the phone as a starting point, deputies began searching with spotlights and signaling with emergency lights. They also used sirens and emergency lights in an attempt to pinpoint their location.
"That section of the river winds back and forth and if you are not familiar with the area, you can think you are trapped," said Rock County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jude Maurer, adding that the father and son were eventually found on the north side of the river. "The men became disoriented and were unable to navigate their way out of the woods on their own due to darkness, dense foliage, high waters, and unfamiliarity with the area."
They were eventually rescued at about 9:30 p.m. by Brodhead EMS personnel using a jon boat.
The men were uninjured and no citations were issued.