RedactedNarrative: On March 19, 2016, a canoeist died of apparent hypothermia in the waters of Lake Superior. The victim was a 50 year old male.  
   
  There were no direct witnesses to the incident and the body was discovered early on the following day.   Information from the investigation and from other officers who were part of this investigation, indicate the victim either fell or was dumped from his watercraft.  The watercraft was a 10’ square stern fiberglass canoe.  No motor was on the canoe, as it was paddled at the time of use.  The victim ended up in the waters of Lake Superior about 100 yards offshore of the City of Ashland in an area known locally as the Hotponds.  The Hotponds is where the discharge waters from an Excel Energy Power Plant (aka, the steam plant) flows in to Lake Superior.  This area is located on the east side of the plant and is a very popular year round open water fishing area with easy public access.  The victim had sent text messages to a friend about the sunset and other non-alarming things.  All texting from the victim was reported to have ended sometime about 8:30 pm.  A significant other also states her attempting to text the victim at about 8:30 pm about dinner plans were unanswered.  She states she made attempts later in the night that were also unanswered.  On Sunday morning, March 20, 2016 at about 7:07 am power plant workers reported an empty canoe in the waters of the Hotpond.  Responding rescue workers found the victim’s body shortly afterwards in the water near the empty canoe.
   
  A Sheriff’s Deputy first responder found a truck parked at the boat launched and could see an empty canoe about 100 yards straight off the boat launch.  Ashland Fire department water rescue responded and located a body near the canoe along with some fishing equipment.  A further search of the area did not reveal any additional bodies or equipment to suggest other missing people might be involved.  There were alcoholic beverages located in a bucket with the victim.  The victim was identified by driver’s license and DNR fishing License found in his wallet. The canoe was found right side up with an anchor out, but the anchor may have fallen out if the boat tipped, as all other equipment was located outside of the canoe.  There was a fresh layer of ice around the boat and also from shore out to the boat.  
   
  It appears the accident happened on March 19 shortly after dark.  The victim had sent a series of text messages to someone up until about 8:30 pm on March 19, 2016.  No further messages from the victim were reported after about 8:30PM. The victim was found without footwear and did have a PFD partially on.  It appears the victim had removed his boots and at the time of his death he was also trying to remove a heavy shirt that he was wearing as an outer garment.
   
  Primary cause of accident determined from the investigation is:  Alcohol related fall from boat and/or capsize resulting in code water immersion the victim could not self-rescue from.
   
  