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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division recently recognized four conservation officers, a natural resources pilot, and a Forestry Division staff person for their lifesaving efforts during the previous several months. Recognized were Natural Resources Pilot Grace Zeller, conservation officers Mike Cross, Tyler Lusignan, Curtis Simonson, and Brice Vollbrecht, and Matt Boyer of the Forestry Division.
“Each of these individuals went above and beyond the call of duty to help people when they needed it the most,” said Col. Rodmen Smith, director of the DNR Enforcement Division. “It’s an honor to present these awards to people so committed to putting others’ needs ahead of their own.”
On the evening of Saturday, May 18 while she was off-duty, Zeller – a natural resources pilot in the DNR Enforcement Division – received a phone call from DNR Enforcement Chief Pilot Capt. Jake Willis.
There was a report of people injured and missing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Curtain Falls along the Canadian border, and other air assets were not available to attempt a rescue.
Zeller responded in a helicopter immediately, coordinating with medical, law enforcement, and rescue staff at the scene. She landed at a remote location in the dark, located an area without hazards, and over the course of two flights, transported three medics and two severely wounded individuals to the Ely Airport.
Two men died in the incident that precipitated Zeller’s rescue effort, but her efforts were instrumental in the survival of two other men – Kyle Sellers and Erik Grams, who both live near the Twin Cities.
“It could have been a lot worse situation,” Grams said last month during a ceremony in Brainerd, where Zellers received the award and met with the victims and their families.
“It was already bad enough, but things could have spiraled from there. We’re very fortunate for the rescue effort from everyone involved, especially Grace.”
