Geneva Lake boat accident, 3 children killed officially identified
Lake Geneva boat accident victims officially identified
The three children who died in a boating accident on Geneva Lake on Friday, July 3, have been identified by Walworth County officials. It comes as officials also clarify and explain the criteria for sounding the weather warning sirens.
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. - The three children who died in a boating accident on Geneva Lake on Friday, July 3, have been identified.
Children identified
What we know:
The Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency confirmed the names of the three children that passed away in the July 3 boating accident on Geneva Lake.
- Kathryn M. Schmidt, age 10
- Abigail M. Oswald, age 7
- Caleb W. Oswald, age 6
The official cause of death for each of the children is asphyxia due to freshwater drowning. The manner of death for each child is determined to be an accident.
Identification via GoFundMe
What we know:
FOX6 previously identified the three children through GoFundMe campaigns and family members.
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.
A separate fundraiser posted to GoFundMe by Jonathon Schmidt identified the third victim as 10-year-old Kathryn Schmidt.
"Kathryn Schmidt, or as most people knew her, Kate, was a bright light in our lives, and her loss has left our family heartbroken. On July 3, a tragic boating accident on Lake Geneva took Kate from us, along with her two cousins," the GoFundMe post said.
Statement from the Schmidt Family
What they're saying:
"The Schmidt family wishes to express their profound and heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated law enforcement officers, fire and emergency medical personnel, dive team members, and Water Safety Patrol members who answered the call. Your swift, courageous response and unwavering support during this difficult time brought immense comfort when it was needed most. To everyone who assisted at the scene and offered a helping hand, please know that your kindness, professionalism, and dedication will never be forgotten."
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.
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Walworth County storm: Weather warning siren protocols explained
Following a destructive and fatal storm in the Lake Geneva area on Friday, July 3, Walworth County officials are clarifying the activation protocols for the area's outdoor warning sirens.
Who was on the boat?
What we know:
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.
The Source: The information in this story is from GoFundMe online fundraisers, Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency, National Weather Service, and prior FOX6 News coverage of the accident. The Walworth County Medical Examiner and Geneval Lake Police later provided FOX6 with the official identities of the children.