Two die in separate Renville County Minnesota River drowning incidents Sunday

The Renville County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the deaths of two people in two separate incidents that occurred on Sunday, June 19, 2022, on the Minnesota River.

First, at approximately 2:58 PM, the Renville County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an individual who reported finding what was believed to be a body caught in a log jam on the Minnesota River between Franklin and Morton, MN.  The Renville County Sheriff’s Office responded, along with the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota DNR.  The body of an adult male was located and recovered.  The body was transported to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and investigation into the cause and manner of the death.

While deputies were working to recover that body, at approximately 5:23 PM, the Renville County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a person reporting a person drowning in the Minnesota River several miles upstream, near the Vicksburg County Park south of Renville, MN.

Several agencies were called to assist and responded.  Emergency responders learned that a young male had been recreating with family and swimming in the river.  The male had not been wearing a life jacket and had begun to struggle in the water.  With the male said to have gone underwater, emergency responders launched several boats and a search effort ensued.  At about 7:40 PM, a young adult male was pulled from the water and resuscitation attempts were begun.  The victim was transported to the CentraCare-Redwood Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Agencies responding to that scene included the Renville County Sheriff’s Office, Redwood County Sheriff’s Office, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota DNR, Renville Fire Department, Granite Falls Fire Department, Belview Fire Department, Redwood Falls Fire Department, CentraCare Ambulance-Redwood Falls, Granite Falls Ambulance and North Air Care.

Both incidents remain under investigation by the Renville County Sheriff’s Office.