Authorities Recover Bodies of Missing Southern Minnesota Canoers

Wascot, WI (KROC-AM News)- Authorities in northwestern Wisconsin have recovered the bodies of two Southern Minnesota canoers who have been missing for nearly three weeks. 

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The search for two men from New Ulm began on the night of October 28.

The canoe they were using was found capsized on the Minong Flowage, which is about 50 miles south of Superior. 

A news release issued by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says search and rescue teams located the body of 27-year-old Andrew T. DeRock on Wednesday afternoon. 26-year-old Ryan J. Busch’s body was recovered on Nov. 8. 

The initial investigation indicates alcohol and weather conditions were not factors in causing the canoe to capsize. Officials navigated obstacles such as weather, cold water temperatures and natural foliage in the search area during the 18-day search effort. 

Douglas County Sheriff Matt Izzard said search efforts began immediately after the capsized canoe was reported and continued every day since. Search and rescue teams from Minnesota and Wisconsin and a private search organization took part in the search and recovery effort.

A post on the Douglas  County Sheriff's Office Facebook page says, "Today we were able to bring grieving families some closure. Thank you isn’t enough to express our gratitude to the agencies that assisted us and the Wascott community for their unwavering support."