Man drowns in south metro lake after being tossed from inflatable by boat’s wave

A man drowned in a south metro lake after he and another person were pitched from their inflatable by a wave from a passing boat, officials said Tuesday.

The incident occurred late Saturday afternoon on Lake Marion in Lakeville, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office said.

The Sheriff’s Office identified the man who died as Reynaldo Patishtan Hernandez, 26, of Northfield.

Hernandez and a 19-year-old man were on the inflatable outside the designated swimming area when a wave from a nearby boat caused both to fall into the water, Sheriff Joe Leko said.

A bystander rescued the younger man, but Hernandez went under and could not be saved, the statement continued.

The Sheriff’s Office said its dive team recovered Hernandez about 40 yards from shore in 8 feet of water.

Leko said neither man had on a flotation device, nor did either know how to swim.

“We thank and commend the bystander for his heroic, lifesaving efforts ... and extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. Patishtan Hernandez,” the statement read.