Sheriff's Office • 100 North Fifth Avenue West • Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2340 • www.stlouiscountymn.gov
Gordon Ramsay
Sheriff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Sunday June 30th, 2024
Media Contact: Sgt. Wayne Toewe
(218) 312-0231
Crane Lake drowning
On Sunday June 30, 2024, at approximately 12:13 P.M., the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office was notified of a water emergency on Crane Lake, outside of the Voyageurs National Park boundaries.
A 50 yr. old male from Embarrass, MN, trained as a SCUBA diver but not affiliated with any recovery or salvage company, was assisting a group of people in recovering a piece of sunken machinery in approximately 70 feet of water. The equipment recovery operation was based off of a barge that was going to be used to transport the sunken equipment back to shore.
During the course of the operation, after a period of time underwater, the diver failed to resurface. Rescue efforts began by those on scene, along with area first responders who had arrived to assist. The victim was subsequently transported to shore, however despite exhaustive medical efforts on scene, the victim was pronounced dead.
The incident and cause of death remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office.
The Sheriff's Office was assisted on scene by the Voyageurs National Park Service Rangers, Orr Ambulance, Orr Fire Department, Crane Lake Fire Department, St. Louis County Rescue Squad, MN DNR, and North Memorial air medical.
The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of family members and will be released at a later time.
**The name of the drowning victim has been identified as 50 year old William Rebarich of Embarrass, MN. The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office.**
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