tBy Barbara Brown

Three teens were rescued from rushing waters of the St. Croix River Monday afternoon when a canoeing trip took a turn for the worse.

A group of students from Bloomington-Kennedy High School was on a trip visiting the St. Croix River and decided to canoe on Monday.
The river was swollen and rushing because of several days of intense rain and rapids and high winds throughout the day created more waves on the water.

At about 1:24 p.m. Monday the Chisago County Sheriffís Office, Osceola Police Department, Osceola Fire Department, Polk County Sheriffís Department, Osceola Ambulance and the National Park Service were dispatched to both the Franconia and Osceola boat landings to seek out at least two students.

An unknown cell phone caller told police he saw capsized canoes coming down the St. Croix River, according to Osceola Police Chief Joe Collins.

Collins said when emergency crews arrived at the Osceola landing, several students and chaperones were on shore waiting for help.
Three students were reported missing, Collins said, and National Park Service Officer Rod Turner, along with private boats owned by fire fighters were launched to search for the two teens.

Collins said one of the boys had swam to shore and the other two had gotten into another canoe.

Three students were taken to the St. Croix hospital to be checked out, Collins said. He said there were no known injuries, but the trip to the hospital for two of the students was necessary for legal reasons.

The third student was taken because he had been in the water for a while and was chilled and shaken up, Collins said.

While the St. Croix is generally a safe river, the combination of a lot of rainfall recently and the high winds pushing through the area Monday created a dangerous situation.

ìThis would have been tough to navigate for an experienced canoer,î said Turner with the National Park Service.

ìLife jackets was what saved these students. They were all wearing their life jackets,î he added.

Turner reminded recreation seekers who look to the St. Croix for fun and exercise to use caution, pay attention to weather and water conditions and even call the National Park Service for recommendations.

ìSome trips just have to be canceled,î Turner said. ìWeíre lucky this one didnít turn out worse.î

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