Fillmore County Sheriff Tom Kaase reports that a 63-year-old woman from Minneapolis died Saturday June 18, 2016 after the canoe which she and her husband were using overturned after running into a log in the Root River just east of Whalan. The woman's husband was able to swim his wife to the river bank and yell for help. A bicyclist on the bike trail went for help. Law enforcement, first responders and MedLink Air responded but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff Kaase reports that this is the third incident in the same general area of the Root River in the last two weeks. He reminds all people enjoying the river to take safety precautions, which may mean cancelling their activity due to adverse river conditions. The Root River has been running high and swift, causing difficult navigating conditions as well as debris and obstacles in the water which can, unfortunately, produce tragic results.

Sheriff Kaase thanks the Lanesboro Ambulance, Lanesboro Fire, Preston/Lanesboro PD, Rushford PD, MedLink Air and the Fillmore County deputies for their rescue efforts.
If you have any questions or concerns about water safety or conditions on the Root River, contact the Minnesota DNR or the  Fillmore County Sheriff's Office at 507-765-3874.

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