The long July 4th holiday weekend has begun, as has a four-day crackdown on dangerous boating on state waterways.
This comes after water-related fatalities over consecutive days on Lake Minnetonka.
Hennepin County Sherriff Water Patrol was called out around 6:00 p.m. Thursday to a report of a swimmer at Commons Beach in Excelsior who went under but did not resurface.
A DNR conservation officer and deputy were able to pull the man out of the water and performed CPR.
He was taken to the hospital but later died.
It's the second deadly incident on Lake Minnetonka in the as many days.
On Wednesday evening, a jet ski collision claimed the life of a juvenile.
The two incidents are a stark reminder about the dangers in and around the water.
Operation Drywater, a four-day crackdown on boating while intoxicated, is now underway throughout Minnesota.
Officials say last year, 9 out of the 16 boating-related fatalities in the state involved alcohol.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson says they're expecting large crowds of party-ers around Lake Minnetonka's Big Island now that COVID restrictions are off.
"My staff is probably the best in the nation at crowd control in water," Hutchinson said. "We think this year going to be kind of the big hurrah, and we're prepared. Break the law and don't be sensible, we're going to take you to jail."
And Hutchinson says that will happen without any warning given.