On Aug. 13, at 5:55 p.m., the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call, reporting that an 80-year-old female had been found unresponsive in Lake Vermilion and that CPR had been started by family members.

First responders were able to arrive at the scene, located on Blueberry Island, and transport the patient back to land, where the female was then transported to the Cook Hospital via ambulance. Life-saving efforts at the scene and at the hospital were unsuccessful. The deceased female has been identified as 80-year-old Marit Smaby-Nowlin, a St. Paul resident who was visiting the area on vacation.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade, the Cook Fire Department and the Cook Ambulance service.