20-year-old drowns in Northwest Minnesota lake

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — A 20-year-old Fergus Falls man drowned in Detroit Lake on June 8 after jumping into the water from a pontoon, according to news release from the Becker County Sheriff's Office.

At 5:39 p.m., Becker County Emergency Dispatch received a call about the man who failed to resurface after jumping into the water from a nearby pontoon on Detroit Lake. By 5:44 p.m., Becker County Sheriff's Deputies and members of the Detroit Lakes Police Department were on the water and responding to the reported drowning location south of Holiday Inn Lakefront, according to the news release

After about a three-hour search of the area, the body of Jette Kriston Frandson, 20, of Fergus Falls, was located in about 29 feet of water and recovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Frandson was on the lake with three other friends who said that, after Frandson jumped in, the wind began pushing the pontoon away from him as he began to struggle in the water. All three friends jumped into the water at separate times in attempts to rescue their friend.

Frandson was not wearing a life preserver, the news release stated.

Members of the Detroit Lakes Police Department, Detroit Lakes Fire Department, Becker County Dive Rescue, Valley Water Rescue, Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office, Clay County Sheriff's Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota DNR Conservation, Essentia St. Mary's EMS, TS Dock and Lift and personnel from the Holiday Inn assisted with the search.

The incident remains under investigation.