Siblings honored for their life saving efforts
by Trinity Gruenberg
An exhilarating night of bow fishing became a life-or-death situation for two Verndale siblings and their friends.
Siblings Alexis Knudson, 18, Hunter Knudson, 16, and friends Dylan Zetah, 18, and Korbin Sarazin, 16, were camping with the siblings’ family at a resort on East Lost Lake in Ottertail.
The lifelong fishermen were excited to take out Dylan’s flat-bottom fiberglass boat, which he purchased the day before. Three people were out in the boat the night before and did not have any issues.
The boat’s baffles had a slow water leak that refilled in the rain.
With having no issues the day before, the group loaded their supplies, including a generator, two bows, and a couple of batteries to run the dock light. They were dressed in warm gear and boots for the chilly weather the night of August 9.
They departed at sunset to make it up the river and to their fishing spot on the lake which was in two to four feet of water so they could see the bottom of the lake.
Water began trickling into the boat. Alexis wasn’t comfortable with the water coming in, which was rising over their feet. She was more concerned about her boyfriend Korbin and friend Dylan not knowing how to swim.
Alexis called their mom, Lori Smith, at 9:18 p.m. to let her know they would pack up and head back....
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