Goodhue County (trfnews.i234.me) – A desperate search is underway after a 56-year-old man disappeared underwater while wading in the Mississippi River near Lake City on Saturday afternoon.
According to the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred just after 3:15 p.m. on July 19 near the sandy point of Long Point, north of Lake City. The man, described as a close family friend, entered the water with a 12-year-old girl to wade near a sandbar.
Tragedy struck when witnesses saw the girl begin flailing her arms, clearly in distress. A passing boat spotted the emergency and successfully rescued her from deeper water. Fortunately, she was uninjured. However, the man who accompanied her vanished beneath the surface and has not been seen since. Authorities confirmed neither of them were wearing life jackets.
Emergency response units from the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office, Lake City Fire Department, Lake City Ambulance, Minnesota State Patrol, and the Department of Natural Resources quickly mobilized. Crews launched a coordinated search using drones and specialized water recovery equipment.
As of Saturday night, the man’s body had not been recovered, and his name has not been publicly released. The search remains active as efforts continue to bring closure to the family.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.