Man rescued from BWCAW after suffering machete injury

First responders rescued a man from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Ely on Friday evening, after he sustained a severe leg injury as a result of using a machete.

Ely area authorities responded to the call shortly after 8 p.m. and located the man on the Angle Worm Trail in the BWCAW.

The Minnesota Air Rescue Team (MART) responded to the scene, hoisted the injured man to safety, and then transported him to an awaiting ambulance at the Ely airport.

The man was transported by ambulance to the Ely hospital. Authorities said he did not have life-threatening injuries.

Kalli Hawkins June 29, 2026