Rescue crews respond to capsized canoe in BWCA

Rescue crews were dispatched to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Sunday morning, October 6, after they received the report of a capsized canoe on Big Shell Lake. The Minnesota State Patrol and Minnesota Air Rescue Team responded to the call that two individuals went in the water.

Upon their arrival to the area, rescue crews discovered the two individuals had made it to shore safely and were making their way back to their vehicles.

At that time, all rescue resources related to the call were canceled.

“It should be noted for clarification that while rescue resources were being coordinated for the BWCA call, law enforcement was alerted to a second water emergency call at approximately 1126 hours,” explained Sgt. E Hanegmon.

This second water emergency was the call on Namakan Lake in Voyageurs National Park where National Park Ranger Service Ranger Kevin Grossheim tragically lost his life while trying to rescue a family of three campers.