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   Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk reports that on November 3rd 2024 at 5:20 AM the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a capsized boat with six juvenile male duck hunters in the water of Leech Lake in northeast Boy Bay of Leech Lake, near the Boy River. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Officer Pat McGowan was in the Leech Lake area at the time of the incident and immediately responded; launching his watercraft to the area of the incident. Conservation Officer McGowan was able to rescue the first four juvenile males, two of which were in the water, and two on the boat and transported them to shore. On a second trip, the last two juvenile males were rescued and transported to shore at approximately 7:05 AM. All six had been in the water and or on the capsized boat and were treated on scene for exposure and mild hyperthermia, with none requiring additional transport or treatment. 

   The initial investigation indicates that the group left the Battle Point boat landing and travelled across Boy Bay for approximately 3 miles when their small duck boat capsized. One juvenile male was able to call 911 and using mapping technology their location was acquired. Life jackets were present in the boat but not worn at the time of the incident. The water temperature was approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the incident. Conditions were dark and windy at the time of the rescue. The incident remains under investigation with assistance of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  Assisting at the scene was Federal Dam Fire Department and North Memorial Ambulance. Sheriff Welk credits the successful outcome of the rescue to Conservation Officer McGowan’s quick response and rescue efforts. 

   The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota DNR share the following safety information for all waterfowl hunters and fall fisherman:

   • Always Wear Your PFD - A PFD greatly reduces the chance of sudden drowning due to cold shock and swimming failure. Cold water drowning can occur instantly if cold shock causes a person to gasp while their mouth is submerged. That particular phenomenon used to be called “Sudden Disappearance Syndrome”, and it’s worth emphasizing that you don’t suddenly disappear and sink to the bottom if you are wearing a properly secured PFD.  Drowning can also occur during the first several minutes of cold shock due to swimming failure or inhaling water as a result of wave splash. If you aren’t wearing a PFD, you will drown as soon as you can no longer swim or tread water. 

   • Always Dress for the Water Temperature - Because cold water can kill you. Not wearing thermal protection when you paddle on cold water is gambling with your life. The air temperature is irrelevant. The only thing that really matters when you fall into cold water is whether you are dressed for immersion.  Dressing for the water temperature means a lot more than simply donning a wetsuit or dry-suit before you head out. It means knowing with certainty that the garments you’re wearing provide enough thermal protection to keep you warm and allow you to function - physically and mentally - should you wind up in the water.  Cold water immersion is always a race against the clock, and depending on how well prepared you are, it can be a desperate race or one you can walk rather than run. 

   • Dressing for the water temperature means: 

   1) Wearing thermal protection like a wetsuit or dry-suit so that you don’t experience cold shock.

   2) Wearing enough thermal protection so that you remain warm, calm, and able to function – physically and mentally - while you’re in the water – whatever the water temperature happens to be.

   3) Wearing a wetsuit that’s thick enough to protect you from the cold and snug enough to work properly.

   4) Wearing a dry-suit that doesn’t leak, is not excessively burped, and has enough warm clothing underneath it to protect you from the cold.

   5) Wearing enough protection to keep you functioning if you have to swim or get towed to shore, and if you can’t get to shore, enough protection to keep you alive long enough to be rescued.

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