A National Park Service ranger died Sunday as he tried to rescue a family stranded on an island in Voyageurs National Park.
Park ranger dies trying to rescue family in Voyageurs National Park
He was attempting to rescue a father and his two children when he encountered windy, dangerous conditions on Namakan Lake.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 7, 2024 at 1:42AM
St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said in a phone call that the ranger was attempting to rescue a father and his two children and encountered dangerous conditions on Namakan Lake as strong winds whipped up waves that reached between 5 and 6 feet.
The ranger was trying to tow the family’s vessel with his own boat when waves flipped it, according to a Park Service release. All four people were thrown into the water, but the family was able to swim to safety.
The ranger did not surface. After a three-hour search, his body was found at 3:20 p.m., according to the Park Service.
“Our hearts go out to our National Park Service rangers and their loss as well as the ranger who died in the line of duty today,” Ramsay said.
The Park Service is investigating and is not releasing the name of the ranger until all notifications are made, according to the agency’s statement.
He was attempting to rescue a father and his two children when he encountered windy, dangerous conditions on Namakan Lake.
