Father, 2 Teens Rescued After Boat Submerges In Frigid Waters

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 41-year-old Minneapolis man and his two 15-year-old boys needed rescue after their boat submerged into frigid waters while duck hunting, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

At 3 p.m. Monday, Tamara Carusa, 42, of Minneapolis reported that her husband, Frank Caruso, and their two 15-year-old boys had not returned since leaving early in the morning on a boat from a their Little Rock Lake cabin in Langola Township. They were expected to be back from their hunting trip at 1:30 p.m. and could not be reached by phone.

Authorities were dispatched to the scene and began searching the area where the group had been hunting. The Rice Fire Department deployed their watercraft and began a search by water. Just before 4 p.m., the fire department discovered the submerged boat near the shore.

Soon after, the fire department located the father and sons on the east shore of Little Rock Lake.

Frank Caruso reported to authorities that he and the boys were heading back from the cabin in their john boat when the front of the boat went underwater. The boat was quickly filled with water.

He and the boys, who were all wearing life jackets, were able to swim back to shore and eventually light a small fire. Besides being cold, all three victims were unharmed. They were examined by Gold Cross ambulance before being released to their own care at their cabin.

Benton County Sheriff's deputies, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Rice Fire Department, the Gold Cross Ambulance and the Rice Police Department assisted in the search.

Langola Township is approximately 17 miles north of St. Cloud.