A ranger for the National Park Service has died in the line of duty during an attempted rescue effort Sunday at Voyageurs National Park.
It happened during the towing on Namakan Lake of a distressed vessel by a Park Service boat which then apparently capsized, throwing the ranger and three individuals being rescued into the water.
Those three people swam to safety, but the park ranger was unaccounted for until his body was recovered about 3:30 p.m.
Investigators say high winds and rough waters were reported at the time of the incident. Winds in the area were gusting over 30 mph at times Sunday leading to those unsafe conditions on the lake.
The park ranger's identity has not been revealed.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with their family," said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson confirmed that the ranger had been on the job for "many" years, and was well-respected in the law enforcement profession.
"We all mourn that loss of life for a law enforcement officer who was out there doing their job trying to save a family," Jacobson said.
Namakan Lake is right on the U.S. border with Canada, just east of International Falls, Minnesota.