Minnesota man rescued from remote island on Saganaga Lake in BWCAW

A Minnesota man was rescued from a remote island on Saganaga Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on Saturday, Sept. 6, after experiencing a possible heart attack.

On Saturday evening at approximately 10:48 p.m., the Cook County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 distress text from a party of four camping at BWCAW campsite #395, located along the south side of Long Island. The island is located near Gold Island and Munker Island on Saganaga Lake.

BWCAW campsite #395 on Long Island | Google Maps

The Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department swiftly responded to the emergency call and made their way to Long Island by boat. The person who experienced a possible heart attack was Timothy Mulcahy, 63, from Shoreview, Minn.

Mulcahy had been presenting heart attack-like symptoms for approximately three hours before the party notified 911, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. First responders were told that Mulcahy was having difficulty breathing, was unable to speak or move, and was semi-conscious. Upon assessment of Mulcahy’s condition, first responders determined that air transport was necessary.

Law enforcement and first responders requested an emergency medical flight from Lifelink III for transport, but the helicopter was unavailable. Law enforcement then contacted North Memorial Air Care, which responded to the call from Superior, Wisc.

First responders departed the BWCAW campsite by boat at approximately 12:02 a.m. with Mulcahy. Once arriving at the Saganaga landing, Mulcahy was then placed in the Gunflint Trail ambulance and then transferred to the Advanced Life Support ambulance, which had arrived from Grand Marais. First responders then transported Mulcahy to the helicopter landing zone, set up in the parking lot of Gunflint Fire Hall 1.

The North Memorial Air Care landed at approximately 1:07 a.m. and then transported Mulcahy to Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.

Kalli Hawkins September 10, 2025