Man's body found in Lake Mendota near UW-Madison Memorial Union

WISN 12 News

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Emergency crews converged on the shoreline behind UW-Madison’s Memorial Union after a passerby spotted what appeared to be a person floating in Lake Mendota. Campus police, Madison Fire Department lake rescue teams, and Dane County sheriff’s deputies launched boats and personal watercraft shortly after the 9 a.m. 911 call. Within minutes divers located and recovered the body of an adult man about 30 yards from the popular Union Terrace pier. Paramedics attempted life-saving measures on shore, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators cordoned off portions of the Terrace patio and the lakeshore path while processing evidence and interviewing people who had been on the pier earlier in the morning. Detectives said there were no immediate signs of foul play, and no weapon or drugs were found in the water or on the victim. Witnesses reported seeing the man alone on the pier around sunrise; security video is being reviewed to establish a timeline of his movements and confirm whether anyone else was involved.

The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the body for autopsy and toxicology testing. Authorities said formal identification and cause of death will be released once next-of-kin are notified and lab results are complete, a process that could take several days. UW-Madison officials urged students and visitors to avoid speculation on social media until the investigation is finished.

Despite the large emergency presence, the Memorial Union building remained open, though lake-front activities were temporarily suspended. Campus counseling services and Dean of Students staff were made available for anyone affected by the incident. Police asked that anyone who was near the Terrace between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and noticed unusual activity contact UWPD to aid the ongoing investigation.

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