UPDATE: SCUBA diver identified in Crane Lake drowning

The victim of the drowning at Crane Lake has been identified by authorities.

On Sunday at approximately 12:13 pm, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a water emergency on Crane Lake, outside of the Voyageurs National Park boundaries.

According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, 50-year-old William Rebarich from Embarrass, MN was assisting a group of people in recovering a piece of sunken machinery in approximately 70 feet of water. The equipment recovery operation was based off of a barge that was going to be used to transport the sunken equipment back to shore. Rebarich was trained as a SCUBA diver but not affiliated with any recovery or salvage company.

After a period of time underwater, the diver failed to resurface. Rescue efforts began by those on scene, and first responders arrived to assist.

The diver was subsequently transported to shore. Despite exhaustive medical efforts on scene, Rebarich did not survive.

The incident and cause of death remain under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Voyageurs National Park Service Rangers, Orr Ambulance, Orr Fire Department, Crane Lake Fire Department, St. Louis County Rescue Squad, MN DNR, and North Memorial air medical.