Rescue teams in northern Minnesota are currently conducting a search for two individuals who have been missing since Saturday. The incident occurred when their canoes went over Curtain Falls.
Two canoes went over Curtain Falls in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at 7:21 p.m. local time on Saturday near the Canadian border, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
Related posts
The events at Curtain Falls have left two families and a wide circle of friends devastated, as expressed by the St. Louis County Rescue Squad in a heartfelt Facebook post on Sunday.
“Four individuals in two canoes were swept over the falls, facing numerous challenges and setbacks. However, our dedicated rescuers were able to safely evacuate two injured patients late last night, along with a third uninjured person from their party, who was located at a campsite early this morning,” stated the rescuers.
“Our thoughts are with the two missing paddlers and their families. We hope for their safe return.”
The search for the two missing individuals, identified as Jesse Melvin Haugen, 41, and Reis Melvin Grams, 40, resumed on Sunday, but unfortunately, no progress was made.
Search and rescue teams are utilizing remote-controlled vehicles and drones, as stated by the sheriff’s office. They are currently engaged in a continuous 24-hour operation to find the missing individuals.
Accessing Curtain Falls is a major challenge, requiring us to rely heavily on our aviation partners for transporting equipment, supplies, and personnel in and out of this remote backcountry location.
According to Division Commander Nate Skelton of the Sheriff’s office, rescuers are currently facing challenging conditions in their search due to high water levels and rapid currents.
The waterfalls cascade down approximately 30 feet, creating a mesmerizing sight for onlookers. Instead of a straight drop, the water gracefully descends between Crooked Lake and Iron Lake, forming a gentle trickle accompanied by the sound of fast-moving water.
According to Skelton, the canoeists had been fishing at the top of the falls on Saturday night.
According to reports, four individuals were fishing near the top of the falls when an incident occurred. It appears that one of them encountered a problem, prompting another person to come to their aid. Tragically, both canoes and all four individuals ended up going over the falls.
