Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., said a private plane he was traveling in lost power and made an emergency landing in a Wisconsin lake over the weekend.
After landing, Tiffany said he called 911. As the plane began to submerge, he and the pilot exited and swam to a shallow area before emergency responders reached them by boat.
Tiffany, who is running to be Wisconsin's next governor, said he was 'really fortunate' and thanked God for what happened. He also thanked the fire department, the sheriff's department, the City of Wausau Police and Aspirus Wausau Hospital, which treated him quickly and gave him 12 stitches above his right eye.
The campaign said Tiffany and the pilot were released from the hospital with 'no more serious injuries.' Local law enforcement turned the investigation over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Democrat candidate David Crowley also said he was grateful that Tiffany and no one else were hurt, and wished them a quick recovery.
Why it matters: Tiffany is now back on the campaign trail after a crash that could have turned into a much worse outcome. The episode also puts a spotlight on the role of first responders and emergency care when private travel turns into a public rescue.
The bottom line: Facts matter more than the political spin around them. A plane lost power, two men got out alive, and taxpayer-funded responders helped bring the situation under control.