Young Diver Tragically Loses Life Following Water Incident in Apple Valley
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA—On the morning of Tuesday, May 21, 2024, a serious water incident occurred at Lac Lavon Lake, near Hayes Trail and Garden View Drive, resulting in the tragic death of Joe Anderson, a member of a contracted team hired to clear lake weeds.
At approximately 9:40 AM, emergency responders were dispatched to the scene following reports of a diver who had failed to resurface during a routine dive. According to the family’s Caring Bridge, Joe had recently been training in using scuba equipment to clean debris from lake floors and was participating in one of his first dives with his team, which also reportedly included good friends of his. Despite the group's thorough pre-dive checks and initial signals indicating readiness, Joe did not return to the surface with his coworkers.
Immediately recognizing the severity of the situation, Joe's colleagues initiated a search for him in about 25 feet of water. After a few critical minutes, they were able to locate him underwater and performed a rapid ascent to bring him to the surface, where they began CPR. When Joe was reportedly found, his scuba respirator was out. A check of his equipment found it was all functioning properly. When EMS arrived at the scene, he was reported to not be breathing and had only a faint pulse.
The family reports that the close proximity of a fire station enabled EMS to arrive swiftly. First responders from the Apple Valley Fire Department, Apple Valley Police Department, local medics, and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Department collaborated to provide immediate and intensive care. Joe was transported to Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, where he was treated for severe hypothermia and other complications. Joe was later transferred to the ICU at U of M Fairview East Bank, where specialized care continued. Although there were brief moments of hope, his condition remained critical. His treatment involved managing his sporadic brain activity and addressing complications from necessary medications, which risked affecting his circulation.
Tragically, on Friday, May 24, Joe’s family faced the heart-wrenching reality that his condition was not improving. Surrounded by loved ones, Joe passed away peacefully. The family says they are thankful for the profound gratitude for the prayers and support they received, and they found comfort in their faith during this difficult time.
According to the family, a wake will be held from 5-9 PM at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Home in Plymouth, MN on Monday, June 3. The funeral will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, June 4 at St. Annes Catholic Church in Hamel, MN.
WCCO News reports that the Minnesota OSHA is investigating what occurred in this incident. We have reached out to the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota OSHA for more information and will update this article with any additional information once it has been made available.
Written by: Will Wight
