Down in the water

Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor, says he was hurt late Saturday when his plane made an emergency water landing in Lake Wausau.

Power lost on approach

The light aircraft was coming in to Wausau Downtown Airport when it lost power. It hit the lake and started to sink, and Tiffany and the pilot swam out.

Ten seconds to brace

The pilot, Len, told Tiffany they were going down and to pull his seat belt tight. Tiffany yanked it, and about ten seconds later they hit the water.

“'We are going down. Pull your seat belt tight.'”

No panic, just jokes

After the plane settled they checked on each other, then swam to a nearby sandbar. Tiffany said they kept it light all night, even knowing how serious it was.

“We were making jokes every step of the way last night”

Stitches and a hospital release

Wausau firefighters pulled both men out alert and conscious. Tiffany got stitches above his right eye at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and was released Saturday night.

The race goes on

The FAA is investigating the Beechcraft K35 crash. Tiffany says it won't deter his run, and Democratic opponent David Crowley called the pilot a hero.

“an experience like this reminds you just how precious life is”