Tom Tiffany, a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Republican candidate for governor of Wisconsin, reported that he and his pilot swam to shore after their plane lost power and made an emergency landing on a lake in central Wisconsin, resulting in minor injuries, according to Reuters.
“While returning home from the Lincoln Day Dinner in La Crosse County this evening, the plane I was in lost power as we approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot executed an emergency landing on Lake Wausau,” he detailed on X early Sunday.
Upon landing, Tiffany called 911. As the plane began to sink, he and the pilot exited the aircraft and swam to a shallow area, where they waited for emergency crews to reach them by boat.
“They safely retrieved us from the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent medical care. Fortunately, both the pilot and I only sustained minor injuries,” Tiffany added.
Tiffany, who has the backing of former President Donald Trump, represents Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district and secured the Republican nomination in August. He is set to face Democratic candidate David Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive, in the gubernatorial election on November 3.
Crowley expressed relief that no one was seriously injured. “I thank God that neither Congressman Tiffany nor anyone else was hurt in this horrendous incident, which could have been a tragedy if not for the pilot’s heroism,” he stated.
