Bodies of 3 missing boaters recovered from Lake Pepin
Lake Pepin search: Bodies recovered during search
Authorities say three bodies have been recovered during the search for three missing boaters on Lake Pepin along the Mississippi River in southern Minnesota.
LAKE PEPIN, Minn. (FOX 9) - Authorities say the bodies of three missing boaters were recovered from Lake Pepin on Sunday after a pontoon boat overturned Saturday night.
Lake Pepin search: Bodies of 3 missing boaters recovered
What we know:
A joint news release from the Wabasha County Sheriff's Office and the Pepin County Sheriff's Office says a 911 call at 10:45 p.m. on Saturday reported people screaming for help from the waters of Lake Pepin.
First responders then found an overturned pontoon boat just offshore from the YMCA Camp on Deer Island in Pepin County, Wis. Three people were found clinging to the overturned boat. The survivors then told authorities that there were three other boaters missing.
Lake Pepin search turns to recovery effort
Authorities say the search for three people missing after an boat accident on Lake Pepin is now shifting to a recovery effort.
Big picture view:
A large-scale search effort started during the early-morning hours and day on Sunday on Lake Pepin. FOX 9 observed multiple agencies and dive crews scouring the lake, searching for the three missing boaters. Lake City Fire Chief Dan Patterson says at least 15 different agencies have assisted with search efforts on Sunday.
The incident happened near the Deer Island YMCA Camp, but authorities say no campers or camp staff were involved in the boating incident.
Operations shift to recovery mission
Local perspective:
Chief Patterson tells FOX 9 used both traditional search grids and underwater sonar to help with search efforts. However, at this point, Patterson says search efforts have begun to transition to a recovery mission – meaning authorities fear the victims didn't survive.
What's next:
The bodies are being transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. The three deceased have not been identified until family can be notified.
The Source: This story uses information from the Wabasha County Sheriff's Office and the Pepin County Sheriff's Office.