Drowning on Ely Lake in Fayal Township
On Tuesday, September 1st, 2026, at approximately 7:10 P.M. St. Louis County Sheriff's Deputies, along with Officers from the Eveleth Police Department were notified of a possible drowning on Ely Lake, in Fayal Township, approximately 5 miles south of Eveleth, MN.
Upon arrival, emergency responders learned that a 43-yr old male from Fayal Township had been paddleboarding with his juvenile daughter, had fallen into the water, and was unresponsive. The juvenile was able to pull her father a distance towards shore, where they were eventually assisted by other lake residents in getting the victim on to shore and began performing CPR.
Neither of the involved parties were wearing life preservers at the time of the incident.
Despite the efforts of family, friends, and emergency responders, the male was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Midwest Medical Examiners Office.
The Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Eveleth Police Department, Gilbert Police Department, Eveleth Ambulance, Virginia Ambulance, Life Link III air medical, as well as Fayal First Responders.
The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family.
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