Twin brothers from Keokuk were rescued from the Mississippi River this afternoon after their fishing boat filled with water. Conditions on the river were rough early Monday afternoon when the incident happened.
Twins Terry and Gary Lovell, who are 65 years old, were throwing a fishing net from the bow of their commercial fishing vessel when a wave swamped the boat. The brothers quickly donned their life vests and were rescued by a boat from a nearby marina.
A Department of Natural Resources conservation officer says the incident should remind all boaters to be mindful of weight distribution when they’re on the water, especially when the water’s choppy. A D.N.R. safety expert says the twins made a lucky escape because oftentimes when an emergency occurs on the water, boaters don’t have time to put on their life jackets.