From the Cook County Sheriff's Department - August 13, 2025

On August 12, 2025, the Cook County Sheriff’s office was notified of a person in the water at approximately 4840 West Highway 61 in Lutsen, Minnesota. Deputies arrived to observe an unresponsive body in the water, which was drifting in the current approximately 100 feet from shore. Cook County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) was paged, and responders launched a boat in Tofte but could not navigate the rough water and had to turn back.

In the meantime, the United States Border Patrol launched a boat from Grand Marais and proceeded to the location of the incident. They located and collected the body of a 61-year-old male. The body was transported to Grand Marais, where staff from CCSAR were requested to transfer the body to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Through investigation, it was learned that the victim and a female were sitting on the shore of Lake Superior when the female decided to go back to the cabin. The male stated he wanted to stay a little longer. When the female looked back, she witnessed a large wave knock the male over, and he was pulled into the water and could not get back to shore.

The name of the victim and the cause of death are being withheld pending results of the autopsy. The case is currently under investigation.