A tragic incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, August 10th, when 63-year-old David Kantrud of Fergus Falls drowned in Otter Tail Lake. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office received the call at approximately 2:34 PM, reporting a man overboard on the lake’s northwest side.
Kantrud was on a pontoon with family members when he fell into the water while attempting to retrieve an item. Nearby boaters quickly responded, helping to recover him from the water. Otter Tail County water patrol arrived within minutes and performed CPR along with the use of an AED on the pontoon. Despite their efforts, Kantrud was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities confirmed that Kantrud was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning is ongoing.