A Rice County Sheriff's deputy prepares a stretcher for the person found near Teepee Tonka Park. (Colton Kemp/southernminn.com)
A missing Faribault man who was pulled from the Straight River at Teepee Tonka Park has died.Â
Jesse Albert DeCoux, 53, was pronounced dead late Friday evening after he was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, according to a news release from the Faribault Police Department.
Family members called for help a little before 5 p.m. after Decoux did not return home. DeCoux and his dogs left a nearby residence two hours prior, according to police.
Family members became alarmed when one of the dogs returned home and was wet. The second dog was found on the loose.
Officers began searching the park and found evidence the missing man might have fallen into the Straight River. They summoned the Faribault Fire Department to assist in the search.
Officers and firefighters found DeCoux submerged in the Straight River. Life-saving efforts were immediately initiated and Decoux was taken by ambulance to the Allina Health Faribault Medical Center. He was later airlifted to HCMC, where he died.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine his cause of death. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
An obituary identifies DeCoux as 52 years old and says he had three children and previously worked at Faribault Woolen Mill. A GoFundMe has been established to help with funeral expenses: www.gofundme.com/f/dwppe7-funeral-medical-expenses
