REGIONAL- A 73-year-old Colorado man died Monday as a result of a storm-related boating accident on Loon Lake, according to the St. Louis Sheriff’s Office.
St. Louis County dispatchers received a call at 11:41 a.m. from Canoe Country Outfitters in Ely reporting that a canoe carrying Wayne L. Morrow, 73, of Fort Lupton, Colo. and Denis M. Guenther, 65, of Grand Junctions, Colo. had capsized in East Loon Bay. Both men, neither wearing life jackets, were thrown into the water when a wave generated by heavy storms passing through the area overturned the canoe.
Guenther reportedly swam to shore with their gear while Morrow remained with the canoe. When Guenther returned to the canoe, Morrow was missing.
Responding initially to Handberg’s Marine on Crane Lake, the St. Louis County Rescue Squad conducted a search using their remote operated vehicle with scanning sonar and discovered Morrow’s submerged body in 61 feet of water. The incident is under investigation by the sheriff’s office and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, Crane Lake Fire/First Responders and Orr Ambulance Service assisted sheriff’s deputies and the St. Louis County Rescue Squad with the call.