A terrifying flight ended in a splashdown Saturday night when a small plane carrying Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany suffered a total loss of power and was forced into an emergency water landing. Tiffany had been heading home from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the engine failed as the aircraft approached the Wausau Downtown Airport. According to statements released by his campaign, the pilot managed to guide the four seat Bonanza down onto Lake Wausau, though the vessel began to sink shortly after hitting the surface.

The situation turned urgent as the cabin started to submerge, forcing Tiffany and his pilot, seventy three year old Leonard Boltz, to abandon the aircraft. Both men were forced to swim through the lake toward a shallow area where they waited for rescue teams to reach them by boat. Local authorities reported receiving the initial distress call at approximately eight forty nine in the evening, triggering a rapid response from several agencies including the Wausau Fire Department and local law enforcement.

Following the rescue, both occupants were transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for medical evaluation. While Tiffany initially described his injuries as minor, a follow up update confirmed that he required stitches above his right eye before being released from care. He expressed deep gratitude for what he called a miracle, praising the quick thinking of Pilot Boltz and the efficiency of the first responders who prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome.

Political rivals also weighed in on the frightening ordeal, with Democratic candidate David Crowley issuing a statement thanking God that no one was seriously injured and calling Boltz’s actions heroic. Meanwhile, federal investigators from both the FAA and NTSB have stepped in to determine exactly why the plane lost power during its approach. Despite the shock of the accident, Tiffany noted that spending time with his wife after such an event served as a poignant reminder of how precious life truly is.