Man dies in Chippewa River

A fishing outing turned deadly early Monday evening, June 24 in the Dunn County township of Peru.

A 59-year old man apparently drowned after falling into the waters of the Chippewa River near 750th Street and County Road O about five miles northwest of Durand.

 According to a news release from Dunn County Sheriff Dennis Smith, the man, whose name is being withheld pending notification of family members, had accompanied his son and another individual to fish in the Chippewa River.

The victim, who was not fishing, had been sitting at the top of the riverbank, fell down as the group was preparing to leave reported the son, who has also not been identified. The son believed that his father had been far enough from the river when he fell and that he would be able to get to his feet and soon join them at the car.

But when the victim did not soon return to the car, the pair returned to the river and discovered the man floating in the water. The man was partially pulled onto the shore where resuscitation efforts were begun. The son called the Dunn County E-911 Center around 6:30 pm to request assistance. Emergency  personnel were unable to revive the victim and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Eau Claire Fire and Rescue, Rock Falls Fire Department and Mayo One Helicopter, which was dispatched to the scene.

Smith said that the name of the victim would likely be release late Tuesday, June 25 once family notification had been completed.