Children to be released from hospital after falling at Governor Dodge State Park

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - The two children who were hospitalized Wednesday after a major fall at Governor Dodge State Park will released Thursday, officials revealed.

The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office said both children, ages 4 and 6, are expected to make a full recovery.

“This case is truly remarkable and we are extremely happy that these children are expected to make a full recovery,” Iowa Co. Sheriff Michael Peterson said.

Iowa Co. officials said Wednesday that they received an emergency call around 2:15 p.m. for two kids that had fallen from a cliff near Bluff Point Trail in Governor Dodge State Park. The 4-year-old child fell 80 feet from the ledge, while the 6-year-old fell 20 feet.

UW Health Med Flight was called for one of the children, and Dodgeville EMS transported the other to a local hospital. Iowa Co. said both children sustained serious injuries from the fall.

Peterson noted the challenge of getting to an incident in the over 5,000 acres of the park and figuring out what needs to be done quickly is a coordinated effort, requiring a lot of departments and personnel acting fast together.

“That particular location is a popular destination but it is not associated directly with any actual hiking trails so as with anything when it comes to going outdoors, there’s a certain amount of risk. You can never be 100 percent safe,” Conservation Warden Alan Erickson with Western Iowa County said.

The Wisconsin DNR is reminding park visitors to plan ahead if they are visiting a state park. Erickson said to snap a picture of the map at the trail head before you head out on your hike in case you get lost or in the case of an emergency.

Erickson also said to stay on marked trails, especially this time of year.

“Just realize this time of year it’s going to be potentially muddy. The conditions are always changing. You might come across downed trees and things like that. The main message is stick to the designated trails. That’s going to be the safest locations to be out hiking around,” he said.

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