A Bagley man died after falling out of a boat on the backwaters of the Mississippi near River of Lakes Campground Monday afternoon. The Grant County Coroners office says the victim was identified as 68 year old Michael Coon of Bagley.
A witness reported having seen Coon in the boat and another witness later saw him appearing to be swimming after the boat, which was floating away from him. The bystanders noticed him appearing to struggle in the water so they found a canoe and went out to help him. He was located unconscious in the water and taken to shore where they attempted life saving measures until emergency personnel arrived. Coon was not wearing a personal flotation device at the time.
He was transported by EMS to Crossing Rivers Health Center in Prairie du Chien where he was pronounced dead.
The Grant County Coroner’s Office has ruled Coon’s death as being accidental.
Assisting at the scene were West Grant EMS, Bagley First Responders, Glen Haven First Responders, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin DNR.