Search for missing swimmer in presumed drowning in Big Kandiyohi Lake continues for third day

LAKE LILLIAN — Emergency services continue to look for the missing swimmer in a presumed drowning Sunday evening in Big Kandiyohi Lake, according to the Kandiyohi County Chief Deputy Julie Wyffels.

The name of the 32-year-old man will not be released until he is located and family has been notified, according to Wyffels.

The search began Sunday night, and a full day of searching continued Monday until dark. Crews started again Tuesday morning.

Searchers are being rotated out due to extreme heat this week, with one searcher being taken by ambulance to a hospital for heat exhaustion Monday, Wyffels wrote in an email.

"(The searcher) will be okay, but we need to take care of our officers and volunteers out searching for the missing party," Wyffels wrote.

Sonar from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is being used, with divers from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office, NorthStar Search & Rescue as well as volunteers from the Spicer Fire Department conducting dives where the sonar picks up an anomaly.

More than a dozen agencies have assisted in the search for the missing swimmer, including a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter and drones from various agencies, according to law enforcement officials.

According to an earlier news release, the Sheriff's Office received a report around 6:32 p.m. Sunday that the man went missing while swimming from a boat in the lake.

A boater attempted to find the man but was unable to.

Detective Sgt. Kent Bauman said Monday that it was around the middle of the lake where the man was last seen.

According to Bauman, the man was with friends on a boat in the lake, went into the water with no life jacket and struggled before going underwater.

The search Sunday night was called off around 11 p.m. due to safety concerns and picked up around 6 a.m. Monday.

"The wind was very difficult to deal with," Bauman said Monday.

Among the other agencies who have been involved in the operation are the Lake Lillian Fire Department and Ambulance, Carris Health — Rice Hospital Ambulance, Life Link, New London Fire Department, Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Meeker County Sheriff's Office, Willmar Police Department, McLeod County Sheriff's Office, Renville County Sheriff's Office, Minnesota State Patrol and Kandiyohi County Emergency Management.

1/5: Over a dozen agencies continue to look for a missing swimmer Monday in a presumed drowning in Big Kandiyohi Lake according to Detective Sgt. Kent Bauman. Mark Wasson / West Central Tribune

2/5: Over a dozen agencies continue to look for a missing swimmer Monday in a presumed drowning in Big Kandiyohi Lake according to Detective Sgt. Kent Bauman. Mark Wasson / West Central Tribune

3/5: More than a dozen agencies continue to look for a missing swimmer Monday in a presumed drowning in Big Kandiyohi Lake, according to Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office Detective Sgt. Kent Bauman. Mark Wasson / West Central Tribune

4/5: More than a dozen agencies continue to look for a missing swimmer Monday in a presumed drowning in Big Kandiyohi Lak,e according to Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office Detective Sgt. Kent Bauman. Mark Wasson / West Central Tribune

5/5: Mark Wasson / West Central Tribune