Park ranger falls out of boat and dies during water rescue, Minnesota officials say

A park ranger died while rescuing troubled boaters from a Minnesota lake, officials say.

Voyageurs National Park officials said the ranger responded to Namakan Lake on Sunday, Oct. 6, to help a group of civilians.

A father and his two kids were stranded on the water when their boat became stuck, according to KQDS.

Battling high winds and rough waters, the ranger’s boat capsized while towing the family’s boat, officials said. It forced the ranger and three civilians into the water.

The family swam to safety, but the park ranger went under water. Their body was pulled out of the water after a three-hour search, according to the national park.

The park ranger has not been publicly identified as of Oct. 7.

“Voyageurs National Park is mourning the loss of one of their law enforcement park rangers,” officials said in the Oct. 6 post on Facebook.

The national park said the incident remains under investigation.

Voyageurs National Park is in northern Minnesota near the border with Canada.