Tragic Weekend on Minnesota Waters

(KNSI) – It was a tragic and deadly weekend on Minnesota’s lakes and rivers.

Authorities say on Friday morning, a 24-year-old man from Chaska was pulled from Long Lake near Wadena after losing control while he was waterskiing and hitting his head. CPR was started, and the man was brought to shore, where deputies from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department were able to regain a pulse. He was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital. His condition is unknown.

Also on Friday, a 34-year-old man died after being run over by a pontoon boat in Aitkin County. Nathen Waldo was boating with friends on Big Sandy Lake when he fell off the front of the pontoon. Investigators believe he was pulled under and then run over by the propeller. The driver of the pontoon, 34-year-old Joshua Harvey of Maplewood, has been charged for boating while intoxicated.

Saturday, there were at least three drownings. One of them was an 18-year-old St. Cloud man who died after jumping into the water at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve. Those he was with, say Zakariya Aden Odowa jumped feet first off of the floating dock and never resurfaced. He reportedly had no swimming experience.

Also on Saturday, a 46-year-old father died at William O’Brien State Park while playing with his kids. Witnesses at the scene say Chandra Mohan Laghuvaram bent over and never resurfaced. A Go Fund Me has been set up to help his family.

A two-year-old was pulled unresponsive from a pond in Ham Lake Saturday. The child was airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.

On Sunday, someone reported a nine-year-old was missing at Carver Lake Park Beach in Woodbury. A police officer arrived on the scene, dove into the water, and pulled the child out. The child was later pronounced dead.

Temperatures over the weekend in Minnesota were in the 80s and 90s, sending people flocking to the water.

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