Lake Pepin Drownings

At approximately 10:45 pm on Saturday, July 11^th, the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting people screaming for help from the waters of Lake Pepin.

A short time later, responding first responders located an overturned pontoon boat just offshore from the YMCA Camp on Deer Island in Pepin County.

Three survivors were located clinging to the overturned vessel. The survivors advised emergency responders that three additional occupants had been on the boat but could not be immediately located.

A large scale search and rescue operation was initiated involving numerous law enforcement and fire, and emergency response agaencies from both Wisconsin and Minnesota. The response included rescue boats, drones, helicopters, and other specialized search resources.    

According to an update from Pepin County Sheriff Joel Wener and Wabasha County Sheriff Curt Struwe, first responders found the missing boaters during search operations and pronounced deceased.

They have been transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office in St. Paul, where autopsies will be conducted.

The incident occurred near the Deer Island YMCA Camp, however, no campers or camp staff were involved in the boating incident.

The identities of the deceased are not being shared at this time, pending notification of their families