Willmar man dies of possible drowning on northern Minnesota lake

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. – A 75-year-old Willmar man died Wednesday when he fell off his boat lift on a Hubbard County lake in northern-central Minnesota.

The Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office received a report at 7:38 p.m. Wednesday of a possible drowning in Lower Bottle Lake in Lake Emma Township. Lower Bottle Lake is seven miles northeast of Park Rapids.

According to the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Department, William Naylor was working on his boat when he fell off the lift into the water shortly after 7:30 p.m.

Naylor’s wife and a neighbor tried to resuscitate him, the sheriff’s department said. First Responders took over but were unable to revive him.

His body was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s office to determine a cause of death.

Sarah Smith is a reporter for the Park Rapids (Minn.) Enterprise, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

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