On July 27, 2025, 11-year-old Maisy Livingston from Merrill, Wisconsin, died after falling off a boat on Lake Alexander, with authorities citing carbon monoxide toxicity as a likely contributing factor. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reported that Maisy lost consciousness due to carbon monoxide poisoning, causing her to fall into the water, where she was found dead nearly four hours later. Three others on the boat were treated for carbon monoxide exposure and are expected to recover.
The incident, which occurred around 3:30 p.m., prompted a response from multiple dive teams and the Merrill Fire Department. Authorities noted that carbon monoxide buildup, even on open-air boats moving at slow speeds, is a known but underrecognized hazard, emphasizing the need for awareness and detection measures.