Bodies recovered from Lake Superior

On Tuesday, Dec. 23 at approximately 3:03 p.m. the Cook County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a 40 year old male falling into Lake Superior near Bluefin Bay Resort in Tofte, MN.  A 66 year old male who was attempting to pull the person out of the water was also pulled into Lake Superior by a large wave.  

At approximately 3:29 p.m. the first victim was removed from the water.  He was transported to Cook County North Shore Hospital where he later died.  He has been identified as Evan Alexander Johnson, age 40, of Menomonie Wisconsin.  
At approxiately 10:03 p.m. the second victim was recovered from the water, already deceased.  He has been identified as Wayne Louis Hoffman, age 66, of Spring Green Wisconsin.

The following agencies assisted with the search efforts: Cook County Sheriff’s Office, County Search and Rescue, Cook County Ambulance, Tofte Rescue Squad, Tofte Fire Department, Lutsen Fire Department, Grand Marais Fire Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the United States Coast Guard, and the Canadian Coast Guard.