Overview
- At least three people drowned and a 16-year-old was hospitalized in critical condition over the Fourth of July holiday weekend in Minnesota.
- Authorities recovered bodies at Movil Lake north of Bemidji, at Lake Ann in Chanhassen, and in the St. Croix River at St. Croix Beach after searches by local sheriff’s offices and dive teams.
- Minneapolis firefighters pulled the teen from the basin below Minnehaha Falls and deputies and bystanders brought a 20-year-old to shore at St. Croix Beach before he later died at a hospital.
- Investigations remain open and officials say the specific causes of the drownings are unclear while severe weather and challenging water conditions delayed some search efforts.
- Safety officials warned that open water can have strong currents, sudden depth drops, muddy or sandy bottoms and cold pockets that can overwhelm swimmers, and they urged extra caution on busy holiday weekends.