A summer afternoon at Minnehaha Falls turned terrifying on Saturday when a 16-year-old boy went under the water near the base of the falls and did not resurface. Crews pulled the teen from the creek, began lifesaving efforts at the scene and rushed him to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
How the rescue unfolded
According to Minneapolis Park Police, a 911 call came in around 5:13 p.m. reporting that the teenager had gone missing while swimming near the base of the falls. First responders searched the water, found the boy underwater and brought him to the surface.
Officials say crews performed lifesaving measures, including CPR. Minneapolis Fire told reporters the teen was driven from the scene in a utility vehicle to a waiting ambulance, then taken to a local hospital. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident, according to KSTP.
The park and the crowds
Minnehaha Falls sits inside Minnehaha Regional Park, a heavily visited riverfront park on the south side of Minneapolis that features a 53-foot waterfall and paved trails. The main park entrance is listed at 4801 South Minnehaha Park Drive. On hot holiday weekends, the falls can draw big crowds looking to cool off, according to the National Park Service.
Not a designated swimming area
Park officials reminded reporters that Minnehaha Falls is not an authorized swimming area. They said Fourth of July heat had lured visitors into the water despite posted warnings, as reported by KSTP. That combination of big crowds, hidden hazards at the creek base and no lifeguards or safety equipment can quickly turn risky for anyone who wades or swims there.
Why officials warn against entering the water
The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board's incident summaries show that park police and regional responders have already handled water rescues this season, underscoring an ongoing public-safety challenge along the city's rivers, creeks and falls. Officials are urging people to stick to designated, lifeguarded beaches and to treat natural waterways, including waterfall basins and rocky creekbeds, with extra caution, according to the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.
