Canoeist Found Dead After Capsizing in BWCA

May 10

A person was found dead Saturday afternoon in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area after a Forest Service crew found a capsized canoe on Iron Lake, north of Ely.

According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, employees with the U.S. Forest Service radioed in at 2:17 p.m. after locating the overturned canoe while working in the area.

After investigating the area further, they found the body of a deceased person nearby, along with the individual's gear. The person was wearing a life jacket, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities say the person appeared to have been on a solo canoe trip. A Forest Service Beaver aircraft was flown in to assist with recovering the body.

FREE > Sign up for the MN CRIME newsletter

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office continuing to investigate the incident. Authorities have not said what may have caused the canoe to capsize.

UPDATE | Sunday, May 11

The canoeist has been identified as 62-year-old Robert Sydney James, of St. Louis Park.

> See more of our latest coverage