Illinois couple horrifically lose children in Wisconsin lake during ‘unprecedented storm’ — even though they were ‘experienced boaters’
An Illinois couple, Brad and Erica Oswald, lost their two children, Caleb (6) and Abigail (7), when their boat capsized on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin during an unprecedented severe storm. The storm produced winds of 90‑100 mph, causing large waves that overturned the 25‑foot vessel despite the operator’s extensive boating experience. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $110,000, which the family intends to donate to charitable organizations supporting children and families.
- ▪The Oswald family’s boat capsized on Geneva Lake on July 3 after a sudden, severe storm with winds estimated at 90‑100 mph.
- ▪Both children drowned, and a 10‑year‑old girl also died, while six adults and one child survived the incident.
- ▪Authorities noted that the boat operator, a 47‑year‑old with extensive boating experience, was unable to find refuge before the storm hit.
- ▪The incident prompted a GoFundMe fundraiser that has collected more than $110,000 for charitable causes.
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US News Illinois couple horrifically lose children in Wisconsin lake during ‘unprecedented storm’ — even though they were ‘experienced boaters’ By Daniel Cody Published July 8, 2026, 9:46 p.m. ET (function() { var overlay = document.getElementById("nyp-player-lcp-overlay"); if (!overlay) { return; } function hideOverlay() { overlay.remove(); } function afterDCL() { requestAnimationFrame(hideOverlay); } if (document.readyState === "loading") { document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", afterDCL, { once: true }); } else { afterDCL(); } })(); See more of our coverage in your search results.
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