Three Drown Across Minnesota Over Fourth of July Weekend as Teen Is Critically Hurt at Minnehaha Falls

Three people drowned in Minnesota waters over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and a teenager was critically injured while swimming below Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, according to reports from local authorities.

The most recent death happened Sunday evening at St. Croix Beach on the St. Croix River. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said emergency crews were called shortly after 6:30 p.m. Deputies and bystanders went into the water, found a 20-year-old man, brought him to shore and began lifesaving efforts. He later died at a hospital. Roughly 20 minutes elapsed between the first 911 call and the moment he was located.

The sheriff's office identified him as Yonathan Gomez-Diaz of Hudson, Wis. "Preliminary information indicates Gomez-Diaz and a friend were wading in the designated swimming area. Both individuals were reportedly unable to swim and encountered a sudden drop-off near the edge of the swim zone," the office said.

On Saturday night, authorities recovered a man's body from Lake Ann in Chanhassen. The Carver County Sheriff's Office said he had been kayaking at Lake Ann Park without a life jacket when he went into the water at about 7:20 p.m. and did not come back up. The Carver County Dive Team found him shortly before 10 p.m., with thunderstorms in the area delaying recovery efforts. The sheriff's office on Monday named him as Earnest Corderia Claiborn, 36, of Eden Prairie.

A third death occurred Friday at Movil Lake, north of Bemidji. The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office said it was called at about 5 p.m. after a 23-year-old man went into the water from a boat and did not resurface. Deputies and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officers, helped by other boaters, responded. At about 5:30 p.m., an object believed to be a body was spotted in roughly 25 feet of water.

Before the Lakes Area Dive Team could arrive, first responders had to leave the lake as severe thunderstorms moved in. Once they were able to return, they found the man's body at about 8:30 p.m. Authorities identified him as Matthew James Rayta of Maple Grove.

Also on Saturday, a 16-year-old boy was pulled from the basin below Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. Callers reported at about 5:20 p.m. that the teen had gone missing while swimming with family members.

The Minneapolis Fire Department said crews began a rapid search and rescue, wearing swift-water rescue suits and setting up rope safety lines before entering the water where the teen was last seen. "Crews were able to locate the individual submerged in the water basin and brought him to shore," the department reported.

The boy was taken to a hospital in critical condition. No update on his condition was available as of Monday morning.