Update: Canoeist body recovered in BWCA
May 11, 2025 07:29PM ● By Editor
Photo: Mat Napo
From the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office- May 10, 2025
May 11th 7:30 p.m. St. Louis County Sheriff's Office Update: The canoeist recovered from the BWCA yesterday, was identified as 62-year-old, Saint Louis Park, MN resident, ROBERT SYDNEY JAMES.
May 11th 7:30 p.m. St. Louis County Sheriff's Office Update: The canoeist recovered from the BWCA yesterday, was identified as 62-year-old, Saint Louis Park, MN resident, ROBERT SYDNEY JAMES.
On May 10, 2025 at approximately 2:17 PM, US Forest Service - USFS employees, reported to 911, that they had located a capsize canoe on Iron Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area - BWCA north of Ely, Minnesota.
Upon investigating further the USFS employees, located a deceased individual and their gear floating near the canoe.
The deceased was wearing a life jacket.
It is believed that the individual was on a solo canoe trip into the BWCA.
The USFS Beaver was flown in to recover the body.
The identity of the victim is being held, pending notification of their family.
The incident remains under investigation by St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.
