Two people were reported missing after canoeing in northern Minnesota over the weekend.
On Sunday, May 19, officials received a report of a “water emergency” on Iron Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on Saturday, May 18 at approximately 7:21 p.m. local time, according to a news release from St. County Sheriff’s Office, which was provided to PEOPLE.
Two canoes were reported blown over Curtain Falls, resulting in one “party” seriously injured and two missing.
“On May 18, 2024, at approximately 7:21 p.m., the St. Louis Co. Sheriff’s Office dispatched a report of a water emergency on Iron Lake to the BWCA,” the press release said. “Caller reported 2 canoes overturned at Curtain Falls during incident, one person seriously injured and two people missing.”
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According to a statement from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Louis, a DNR helicopter was used around 12:30 p.m. to rescue “one injured person and another uninjured person.” The injured man was then taken to Essentia Duluth with serious, non-life threatening injuries.
“On May 19, 2024, the search continued, led by the St. Louis Co.,” the statement continued, “An individual who was with the group and was not involved in the incident was ejected from the wilderness. The rescue squad of St. Louis Co. continues the search for 2 missing persons.”
The two missing canoeists have been identified as 41-year-old Jesse Melvin Haugen and Reis Melvin Grams (40).
47-year-old Kyle Thomas Sellers was also named as the injured canoeist, while the involved canoeist was identified as Erik Michael Grams, 43, and the group member was identified as Jared Lay Lohse.
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The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Louis and the rescue squad continued the search with the help of North Air Care, Virginia Fire, MN DNR helicopters, MART, Minnesota Air Rescue Team and the US Forest Service.
“ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) and drones will be used to search the area for the missing canoeists,” the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Louis. “The fast water conditions are creating difficult search conditions, however the crews in the group continue to push forward to continue the search area and expand it as necessary. The following are the parties involved including the names of the two missing canoeists.”
In a statement to PEOPLE, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area organization noted, “In general, the BWCA is a remote wilderness area and groups should be prepared for risk and adverse conditions. Good practices are to always wear a pfd (life jacket) and be warned that the water cold and that hypothermia can quickly occur, especially in the spring.”
The organization’s statement continued: “Visitors should avoid or use caution when traveling through and near moving water. It is common for winds to pick up in the afternoon, making travel across large lakes a challenge. When in doubt about the group’s conditions and capabilities, stay put and don’t risk a trip to plan ahead by researching and discussing travel plans with other experienced travelers.”
The St Louis County Rescue Squad also released a statement about the incident in a Facebook post on Sunday, May 19.
“Two canoes with four people crossed the waterfall,” read their statement. “Despite numerous challenges and failures, we successfully evacuated two injured patients late last night, as well as a third uninjured person accompanying them from the camp early this morning. Two oarsmen are still missing.”
The rescue team added that the members slept on the ground so that it would be easier to continue the search in the morning.
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Source: HIS Education