Lake Geneva boat accident, 2 children identified on GoFundMe

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. - An Illinois family identified two of the three children who died in a boating accident on Geneva Lake Friday.

A fundraiser posted to GoFundMe by Brad Oswald identified two of his children, Caleb Oswald, 6, and Abigail Oswald, 7, as having "lost their lives in a tragic boating accident caused by an unprecedented severe storm".

"Caleb and Abigail were more than brother and sister—they were best friends. They filled our home with laughter, music, hugs, and endless love," the post said.

The accident happened Friday as downburst winds near 100 miles per hour blew over Geneva Lake. The sudden change in weather created choppy waves and low visibility conditions on the water, as seen in videos shared with FOX6 News.

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In the middle of that storm, the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency said a wake boat carrying 10 people capsized. First responders rescued six adults and a child, but three children — ages 6, 7, and 10 — did not survive. Police said all the children were wearing life jackets properly.

"They were deeply loved by their family, friends, teachers, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing them. Even in the face of this unimaginable tragedy, we hope Caleb and Abigail's lives will continue to make a difference by helping other children for years to come," the post said. "Knowing their legacy is bringing hope to other families will help bring some comfort to us as parents."

Ted Pankau has directed the Geneva Lake Water Safety Patrol nonprofit for the last three decades.

"It's one of the worst tragedies we've ever had on this lake to lose three people at the same time like that, especially when it's young kids. It always hits harder," Pankau said.

Since 1920, the nonprofit has worked to keep people safe on the water through lifeguards, education, and patrols. They utilize red lights to signal a storm is coming.

"We ran the red flags about a half-hour before the storm hit. We generally try to have a little bit more time than that before a storm hits," Pankau said.

But the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency said the operator — whom it described as experienced — couldn't find safe refuge in time. It said he pointed the front of the boat — the bow — toward the wind. Under those circumstances, Pankau said the operator did what he could.

"If you're the other way around, with the stern to the waves, the waves are gonna have an easier time coming over the stern of the boat in most cases," Pankau said. "So yeah, this is one of those cases where they did everything right, but Mother Nature was extraordinarily violent that day."

The 10-year-old who died has not been identified.

FOX6 obtained a brochure for the boat, which police said was a 2024 Nautique P-25. It shows the boat did not have a cabin. Police have said divers located the children inside the capsized boat about 32 feet underwater.

Meanwhile, the Oswald family said the donations raised will be given to a children's charity in Caleb and Abigail's honor.

As of 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, the fundraiser has already raised more than $165,000.

Portions of this article were formatted using A.I. FOX6’s Sam Kraemer and an editor reviewed it for accuracy and tone prior to publishing.

Geneva Lake boat accident

The backstory:

Walworth County experienced what law enforcement described as a "sudden and severe" storm on July 3. The National Weather Service said it created a downburst with peak winds estimated at 90–100 mph.

The storm downed hundreds of trees and power lines, damaged several buildings and created hazardous boating conditions on Geneva Lake. One boat with 10 people on board overturned and ultimately sank. 

Six adults and one child were rescued from the water, while three of the kids were missing when emergency responders got there. Those three children were found and later died despite life-saving attempts. 

Who was on the boat?

The latest:

The three children who died have been identified as a 10-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy. 

The boat operator was a 47-year-old man. The other passengers were a 75-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman, a 49-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy.

The group included residents of Fontana, as well as residents of Batavia and Wheaton, Illinois. All four kids were wearing properly fitted life jackets, according to law enforcement.

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What happened on Geneva Lake?

Dig deeper:

Law enforcement said the boat operator had "extensive boating experience" and was unable to find safe harbor when the storm hit. At least two large waves broke over the bow, causing it to take on water. Another wave hit the side of the boat, causing it to roll, capsize and sink. 

The sunken vessel was found in 32 feet of water, and three children were found inside the boat. Divers were able to get them out and bring them to the surface, and they were pronounced dead despite life-saving attempts. Investigators determined they had no external injuries and drowned.

What's next:

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency are still conducting a joint investigation into the accident. Eleven other agencies assisted with the immediate needs.

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