On May 10 at approximately 5 p.m., canoeists in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area called 911 to report that they had located a capsized canoe and partly submerged, deceased human body on Lake Agnes, located approximately 25 miles north of Ely.
Members of the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff’s Office Rescue Squad and US Forest Service responded and upon their arrival on scene recovered the body of 62-year-old, Duluth resident, Mark Ham.
It was later learned from family that Ham was on a solo camping trip in the BWCA.
A life jacket was located on scene but was not worn by the victim. With the opening of the Minnesota fishing season, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Rescue Squad would like to remind everyone to please wear their lifejackets while out on the water enjoying their favorite water recreations this summer.
This incident remains under investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Midwest Medical Examiner Office.