A 19-year-old University of Minnesota-Morris student drowned this afternoon after the paddle boat he was on capsized on Little Emily Lake near the town of Emily in Crow Wing County, the sheriff’s office said.
The man called 911 around 12:30 p.m. on May 12 to report the paddle boat had capsized and that he and two women were in the water. The call was unexpectedly disconnected.
Responders rescued the two women, ages 20 and 22, who reported the man had not returned to shore. One of the women was transported by ambulance for injuries related to cold exposure.
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Rescue personnel along with dive team members began search operations. At about 2:55 p.m., they found the man’s body in roughly 23 feet of water.
The three were college students from the University of Minnesota Morris visiting the area, the Sheriff’s Office said. The man’s name has not yet been released. Several lake residents also helped with rescue efforts.
“Please keep the families of all involved in your prayers as they go through this very difficult traumatic time,” Sheriff Eric Klang said in a statement.
