National Park Ranger Killed During Rescue Mission in Northern MN

Kabetogama, MN ( KROC-AM News ) - A Park Ranger died Sunday while coming to the assistance of some boaters in Voyageurs National Park .

A news release issued by the National Park Service says the law enforcement ranger responded late Sunday morning to a call for assistance from a civilian vessel in distress on Namakan Lake in far northern Minnesota . The statement says the park ranger was towing the civilian boat with a National Park Service boat when it capsized and sent the ranger and the three civilians into the water.

The news release says the three civilians were able to swim to safety, but the ranger vanished in the water. A search was launched, and his body was recovered from the lake around 3:20 PM.

The name of the deceased Ranger has not been released.

The National Park Service says high winds and rough waters were reported at the time. The deadly incident remains under investigation.

The US Border Patrol, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, and the Kabetogama Fire Department assisted in the search and the recovery.

Namakan Lake is located along the U.S.-Canada border , about 20 miles east of International Falls

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