Park Ranger Dies After Boat Capsizes During Rescue on Northern Minnesota Lake
via Voyageurs National Park
A National Park Service ranger died Sunday while responding to an emergency on Namakan Lake in Voyageurs National Park, the agency confirms.
While towing a distressed civilian boat, the ranger’s NPS boat capsized, forcing the ranger and three people into the water.
The ranger was assisting the civilians—a father and his two sons—late Sunday morning at the far-northern Minnesota park, close to the Canadian border, when the incident occurred. Their boat had flipped and been pushed ashore on a small island by high winds in the area.
The three civilians managed to swim to safety, but the ranger did not resurface and remained unaccounted for.
A search effort involving the United States Border Patrol, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office and the Kabetogama Fire Department was launched and after approximately three hours, the ranger’s body was recovered from Namakan Lake at around 3:20 p.m.
Officials say high winds and rough waters contributed to the incident. The male ranger’s identity has not yet been released, pending notification of family. The incident remains under investigation and NPS did not immediately disclose if the civilians were wearing personal flotation devices.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reports the ranger had years of experience and was close to retirement.
”He was just all about helping others and that’s what he died doing was helping others,” St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said. “He had a servant’s heart by all accounts.”
UPDATE | The ranger has been identified by authorities as Kevin Grossheim.
“Kevin Grossheim was a dedicated ranger and public servant, known for his unwavering commitment to helping others,” Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement. “Minnesota mourns this tragic loss, and requests all flags be lowered in recognition of Ranger Grossheim’s service and sacrifice.”
Walz ordered flags flown at half-staff Tuesday in Grossheim’s honor.
“He was a true public servant,” Sheriff Ramsay said. “He loved to help people.”
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