Rescuers were paged to Temperance River on Sunday, June 30 to rescue a father and son who had become trapped in the rushing water.
Russell Brown, 16, of Northfield, Minnesota, apparently did not realize how rapid the river was while swimming near the southernmost bridge on the river. The water pulled him under several times and his father, Gregory Brown, 49, also of Northfield, jumped in to try to save him. He too became trapped in the current.
Russell was swept to the east side of the river and was able to climb out of the water onto a small sand bar.
Gregory Brown was unable to reach him and clung to a rock in the current. Some bystanders found the life ring kept in a box near the river. It was tied so securely they frantically cut the rope with a pocketknife to get it out. They were able to toss the ring to Gregory Brown who was then able to float downstream and to shore with their assistance.
Russell however was still trapped by the rushing water, shivering from the cold water and the frightening situation.
Emergency responders from Tofte and Schroeder responded and assessed the situation, trying to determine if rappelling gear would be needed to bring the young man safely up the riverbank or if they should launch an inflatable rescue raft.
Tofte Assistant Fire Chief Tim Norman and Pete Borson of the Schroeder Fire Department were able to drop a life jacket to the teen. Once he rested and got the life jacket on, he felt he would be able to swim to safety. Coached by Borson from above, the young man swam and let the current carry him down the river and to the riverbank.
Tofte First Responders monitored the father and son as they warmed up and calmed down. Cook County Ambulance responded to the scene but neither man needed further medical attention.
Assistant Fire Chief Norman said the spot where Russell Brown experienced difficulty is where deaths have occurred on the river. He said, “It looks so innocent, you can almost step over it, but it can be deadly.
“Local kids have learned that in this high water if you get caught in that spot to dive to the bottom and swim out. You can’t get any buoyancy there with all the air bubbles. It seems counterintuitive, but the best thing is to go down and then you swim out,” said Norman.
The Browns are indeed extremely fortunate. There have been multiple deaths in the powerful Temperance River rapids. On July 4, 2009, a 45-year-old man from Ramsey, MN was swept away in the current while swimming. In 2008, two young women, 17 and 22, from Maple Grove, MN perished after being swept away by the current in a popular wading spot further up the river. In 2001, a 22-year-old hiker from Finland, MN died after falling in the river. In 2000, a 50-year-old Wisconsin man drowned while saving his 8-year-old son. Another father, 48, from Remer, MN drowned while rescuing his 12-year-old daughter. In 1996, a 14-year-old boy from Crystal, MN drowned after diving at one of Temperance’s waterfalls.
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