Swept-away swimmers rescued

Two Alexandria girls escaped a near drowning Thursday morning.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Chelsea Lane, 13, and Nicole Currier, 8, were swimming in the Lake Cowdry-Darling channel when the current overtook both of them shortly before 11 a.m.

The current brought the two girls into deeper territory and both were unable to stay above the water.

Onlookers observed the swimmers and one male, Darren Stebe of Alexandria, began to swim toward the girls.

Another onlooker, Tim Haack of Rochester, was in his boat and drove to where the girls went under. Haack pulled one girl into boat and then with assistance from Stebe, pulled the other girl into his boat.

Both girls were brought to the Douglas County Hospital for observation, according to the sheriff’s office.

Tags: local news, news, northland, outdoors, rec, sports, daily updates