CASS COUNTY, Minn. – A serene afternoon on the water turned to tragedy this week when a Cass Lake woman suffered a fatal medical emergency while operating her boat on Leech Lake, leading to a crash along the shoreline near a popular city park.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim as 59-year-old Theresa Kay Cechini. According to a new update from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office, Cechini experienced a sudden medical incident that caused her to lose control of the vessel. The unmanned boat then veered into rocks and the shoreline near Walker City Park.
The chain of events began at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday when deputies and emergency crews rushed to the scene following reports of a crash. First responders located Cechini, the boat’s sole occupant, and immediately performed lifesaving measures as they removed her from the damaged vessel.
In a desperate race to save her, she was transported to the Walker airport to meet with advanced medical crews who continued resuscitation efforts. Despite all attempts, she was pronounced deceased a short time later.
The news has sent a wave of sorrow through the tight-knit communities of Cass Lake and Walker, for whom Leech Lake is a central part of life. Sheriff Tom Burch expressed his department’s profound condolences to Cechini’s family and loved ones, stating her passing is a “tragic reminder of how quickly emergencies can unfold on the water.”
While this devastating incident was precipitated by a medical event, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office is reiterating its critical message on boating safety. Officials urge all boaters to prioritize wearing life jackets and to ensure their vessels are properly equipped with safety gear, emphasizing that preparedness is paramount for responding to any emergency, medical or otherwise, while out on the lake.