Minnesota Man Killed in SCUBA Mishap During Salvage Operation

Crane Lake, MN (KROC-AM News) - Authorities in far northern Minnesota are reporting a fatal SCUBA diving accident.

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office says deputies and other emergency responders were sent to Crane Lake on the edge of Voyageurs National Park around 12:15 PM on Sunday. They were told that a SCUBA diver had failed to resurface.

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A news release says the 50-year-old man from Embarrass was trained as a SCUBA diver but was not affiliated with any recovery or salvage company. He was assisting a group of people working to recover a piece of machinery that had sunk in approximately 70 feet of water. The Sheriff's Office says the recovery operation was based on a barge and the plan was to use the vessel to transport the sunken equipment to shore.

Officials say something apparently went wrong during the salvage operation and the diver failed to resurface. People at the scene attempted rescue efforts and were joined by first responders as they arrived to assist.

Eventually, the SCUBA diver was found and brought to shore, but despite exhaustive medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released and the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office is conducting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

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