May 21st 2018

PRESS RELEASE – Hart Lake Drowning

On May 19th at 1:26pm, the Hubbard Co. Sheriff’s Office received a call of two kayakers
on Hart Lake that had overturned in their kayak & had not come to the water’s surface.

Responding agencies located a kayak upside down and no immediate sign of the two
victims. After initiating a search, emergency units on the water located the 4-year old
victim in the water & began CPR. The child was transported by Cass Lake Ambulance &
then North Memorial Air Care to the U of M Hospital in Minneapolis and was listed as
being in critical condition.

A search continued for 42-year old Jesse Anderson of Northwood, IA who was the father
of the 4-year old child. Search efforts included the use of a helicopter, boats, and also
underwater divers without any results. Searching was suspended for the overnight on
May 19th due to weather conditions & darkness, and then resumed at 7 am on May 20th.
At 10:53 a.m. the body of Jesse Anderson was recovered from Hart Lake in 6 feet of
water. At 10:45 p.m. the Hubbard Co. Sheriff’s Office received notification that the 4-
year old victim had died as a result of his injuries after being taken off life support.
Neither victim was found to be wearing a lifejacket.

Agencies that assisted the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office in the incident include the
Beltrami Co. Sheriffs Office, Bemidji Ambulance, Cass Co. Sheriff’s Office, Cass Lake
Ambulance, Lake Port 1st Response, Lake Port Fire Dept., Lakes Area Dive Team, MN
DNR, MN State Patrol, North Memorial AirCare, Pike Bay Police Dept.

Sincerely,

Cory Aukes
Sheriff
Hubbard Co. Sheriff’s Office
301 Court Ave
Park Rapids, MN 56470