Three rescued from Lake Marquette after canoe capsized

Personal flotation devices such as lifejackets are credited in the successful rescue of three people after their canoe capsized on Lake Marquette.

Bemidji Ambulance personnel responded to the scene Friday afternoon to transport three people in need of treatment of hypothermia.

“This scenario ended well. Some unfortunately don’t,” said Berltrami County Sheriff Ernie Beitel in a release.

“Cold water can kill.”

All boaters are reminded to wear their PFDs at all times.

“Logs and large tree limbs, and bog can be moved by the ice as it goes out causing these obstructions to shift,” said Beitel.

“Be safe. Cold water can kill.  Wear your PFD.”


Larissa Donovan was the News Director for the stations of Paul Bunyan Broadcasting and has been, almost without interruption, since Election Day 2016, through July 2023. She covered all the beats in north-central Minnesota, such as local government, crime, education, environment and social issues. She studied communications at Bemidji State University. You can follow along with Larissa's live tweets of meetings and events on Twitter!


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