Tom Tiffany swims to safety after plane makes emergency landing in Lake Wausau

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP/CBS 58) — A Republican congressman said he had to swim to safety after a plane he was traveling in made an emergency landing in a lake late Saturday.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany says he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the light aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot -- identified by the Marathon County Sheriff's Office as 73-year-old Leonard Boltz of Pearson, Wisconsin --made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. They both ended up in the water and swam to safety.

"After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to submerge, we exited the aircraft and swam to a shallow area, where we waited until emergency responders reached us by boat," he wrote on X.

Emergency responders got both Tiffany and the pilot to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.

Tiffany's statement on X reads in part: 

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the pilot, the Wausau Fire Department, and all of the first responders who came to our aid so quickly. They got us safely off the water and transported us to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where we received excellent care. Thankfully, both the pilot and I sustained only minor injuries."

Tiffany is running for governor on the Republican ticket in Wisconsin and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The plane Tiffany was traveling in was a single-engine, four-seat Bonanza aircraft.

Democratic candidate for governor, David Crowley, reacted to the news on social media saying he wishes Tiffany a quick recovery. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were notified and will investigate the incident.

This is a developing story. Stick with CBS 58 on-air and online for updates.