Bodies of Missing Minnesota Swimmers Recovered from River
Red Wing, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office says search and rescue teams have recovered the bodies of three missing swimmers.
Search efforts began around 7:30 Monday evening after deputies responded to the report of two men and a girl who were missing in the river. The search effort was concentrated on an area where the Vermillion River feeds into the Mississippi River north of Red Wing.
The search was suspended due to poor weather Monday evening and resumed Tuesday but the swimmers were not located. Crews continued the search Wednesday morning and found two of the bodies shortly before 7 a.m. and located the third body shortly after 7 a.m.
A news release issued Wednesday morning says all three of the bodies were located near the search area. The names of the men and girl have not been released, however officials say they’re all from the same household in Oakdale.
The men and girl were part of what's been described as a large family gathering on the north end of Diamond Island. One of the men was fishing on the shore when he noticed a man, woman and girl struggling to swim in the water. He went in and retrieved the woman then went back to rescue the man and girl.
Authorities say the man and the two other people still in the river went under water and never resurfaced. The men and girl were described by law enforcement as inexperienced swimmers who were not wearing life vests. It’s believed they were swimming in about three feet of water and began struggling when they hit a steep five-foot drop-off.
The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office will identify the individuals. Authorities say their family members have been notified of the bodies being recovered.
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