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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Fire Department
602 West Second Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802
218-730-4400 •www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact Kelli Latuska,
Public Information Officer at 218-730-5309
DATE: 8/26/2017
SUBJECT: Water Rescue - Lester River
BY: Assistant Chief Erik Simonson

NATURE OF INCIDENT: Water Rescue
CASE NO.: 17-009058
INCIDENT DATE: 8/26/2017
INCIDENT TIME: 17:22
INCIDENT LOCATION: Lester River - Duluth

The Duluth Fire Department received notice of a juvenile male who had jumped in the water in Lester River, in an area known as "The Deeps". The male did not resurface according to the reporting party. 

The river was running very fast and high, with the recent heavy rains today. Water conditions were dangerous. DFD personnel arrived and commenced a search, spread out from the Deeps all the way to the mouth of the river at Lake Superior. Duluth Police, St Louis County, US Coast Guard and Gold Cross Ambulance were also on scene participating. 

The male was located at 17:40, approximately two blocks downstream. Crews removed him from the water and commenced CPR and other life saving initiatives. The victim had to be extricated from the ravine via rope system - and was transferred to a Gold Cross Ambulance who transported the patient to a local hospital.  

Condition of the patient is unknown at this time. No DFD personnel were injured in this rescue.