Two men swim to safety after strong winds capsize sailboat on Minnesota lake
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Two men swam to safety after strong winds from overnight storms capsized their sailboat on a lake in west-central Minnesota.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office reported that deputies were called just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday about a possible overturned sailboat on Big Kandiyohi Lake, southeast of Willmar.
Two men from Franklin, Minn. — ages 48 and 51 — were sleeping on the anchored boat when a thunderstorm rolled through. Winds from the storm rolled the boat. Both men were thrown in the water underneath the sailboat and were separated.
The 48-year-old swam about a mile to the north shore of the lake and got help from the other man's brother. They called 911 before taking a pontoon back on the lake to search for the other man.
Meanwhile, the 51-year-old man also was able to swim to the north shore and get help. He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The younger man was not hurt.
Storms that swept across Minnesota late Saturday and early Sunday produced wind gusts in excess of 55 mph.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
