Stillwater drowning victim identified

The St. Croix County Sheriff's Department assisted Washington (Minn.) County officers in recovering the body of a drowning victim in the St. Croix River Sunday.

Sheriff Dennis Hillstead said deputies from his department's water patrol joined in the search at about 5:53 p.m. north of the Stillwater lift bridge. The body of 38-year-old PHA Yang of St. Paul was located about 7:55 p.m. by side scan sonar and recovered by divers.

The joint investigation determined Yang and three friends rented a pontoon boat in Stillwater. About 100 yards north of the bridge, Yang decided to go for a swim and jumped overboard. He swam after the boat that was drifting north with the motor off when he got in trouble and went under. Friends said Yang an experienced swimmer.

Tags: news, drowning, yang, stillwater