MOUNTAIN LAKE — Cottonwood County authorities are continuing the search for a missing 15-year-old boy who was last seen Monday evening after canoeing on Eagle Lake with a family member. The juvenile jumped into the lake to retrieve a lost oar at approximately 6:43 p.m., but strong winds pushed the canoe away, making it difficult for him to swim back.
The family member, unable to locate the boy in the choppy waters, lost sight of him as the pair drifted apart. Neither were wearing life jackets at the time.
A coordinated search effort involving multiple local and state agencies was launched shortly after the incident, extending into the early morning hours of Tuesday. The search was suspended around 2:00 a.m. due to challenging conditions and darkness.
The Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office is leading the ongoing search efforts with support from the Mountain Lake Fire and Police Departments, Mountain Lake Ambulance, Windom Fire and Police Departments, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Minnesota State Patrol.
The search was scheduled to resume this morning at sunrise.
