Victim and witness identified in fatal boat strike at North Central Camp Cherith on Lake Six in Otter Tail County

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – A North Central Camp Cherith camper was struck and killed by a boat while tubing on Lake Six in northern Otter Tail County on Thursday evening.

According to an Otter Tail County news release, on June 22 at 4:15 p.m., emergency dispatchers received a report of a boat striking a swimmer on Lake Six in Hobart Township with the individual suffering life-threatening injuries at the time of the call.

13-year-old Benjamin Rennie, of the Andover-Coon Rapids area, and another juvenile were being pulled by a boat in an inner tube when the kids fell out of the tube. Camp employee, 27-year-old Meghan Westra, of Fargo, was piloting the boat and returned to pick up the campers when the boat accidentally struck Remmie.

Staff members attempted life-saving measures while first responders were on-route to the scene at the camp.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel continued life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful.

Both campers were wearing floatation devices at the time of the boat strike and, the sheriff’s office stated, no criminal charges are anticipated in connection to the incident, but the investigation remains ongoing.

In a social media post by Camp Cherith MN following the incident, the executive director for the camp, Kendra Mohn, said, quote: “Please pray for the camper’s family and all those grieving after this incident.”