Park ranger dies while attempting to rescue visitors stranded on lake, officials say

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK, Minn. (Gray News) – A park ranger in Minnesota died Sunday while rescuing three people on a lake, according to the National Park Service.

Officials said the ranger responded to the call for help at Voyageurs National Park in St. Louis County late Sunday morning.

The call for help came from a distressed civilian vessel on Namakan Lake.

While the ranger was transporting the three park visitors from their vessel, the ranger’s NPS boat capsized, and the ranger and three passengers were forced into the water.

The three civilians were able to swim to safety. However, the ranger was unaccounted for, and after a three-hour search was conducted, their body was recovered from the lake at about 3:20 p.m.

Authorities are continuing to investigate. They said high winds and rough waters were reported at the time.

The ranger’s name has not yet been released.

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