Body found of boater who jumped in Pine County lake to save friend's hat

The search lasted two days until the 28-year-old man's body was recovered late Monday afternoon.

July 12, 2018 at 3:15AM
John Fanning
John Fanning (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

A missing boater's body has been recovered from a lake north of the Twin Cities, authorities said.

John Fanning, 28, of Moose Lake, Minn., had been missing since late Saturday afternoon, when he jumped off a boat on Sturgeon Lake, according to the Pine County Sheriff's Office.

Fanning was fishing and jumped in to save a friend's hat, according to a Facebook page set up to rally volunteers in the search along the shore and on the lake.

"His friend, after attempting to save John, was picked up and brought to safety," the posting continued. "Their boat drifted away."

Witnesses told authorities that Fanning was "having trouble in the water before going under," read a Sheriff's Office statement.

Two days of searching the lake roughly 6 miles south of Moose Lake turned up Fanning's body. He was not wearing a life jacket, the Sheriff's Office was told.

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Paul Walsh

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Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

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