DIXON – Frank Berman saw a pontoon boat in the Rock River late Wednesday afternoon. A person was in the water.

At first, Berman, who lives near the river, thought a family was enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. Upon closer inspection, he realized there was a problem.

It turned out that the boat’s motor quit working, Dixon Fire Chief Tim Shipman said. There was a man, woman and small child in the boat; she was behind the boat, trying to push it back to the north shore, while he was paddling. They were 80 yards from the dam.