2 Wis. men die after being swept into Lake Superior

Updated: 9 a.m. | Posted 6:36 a.m.

Two Wisconsin men died after being swept into Lake Superior by large waves near Tofte on Tuesday.

Evan Alexander Johnson, 40, of Menomonie, Wisconsin, was pulled into the water by a large wave near Bluefin Bay Resort at about 3 p.m., according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Waves were reportedly between 4 and 6 feet high on the lake.

Wayne Louis Hoffman, 66, of Spring Green, Wisconsin, was knocked into the water by another wave when he tried to rescue Johnson.

Emergency responders pulled Johnson from the water shortly before 3:30 p.m. He was transported to Cook County North Shore Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A sheriff's deputy said icy conditions made it impossible to use helicopters in the search for Hoffman. The United States Coast Guard recovered Hoffman's body at about 10 p.m.

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