Cory Hendrickson was enjoying a quiet summer evening fishing on a northern Minnesota lake when an arrow-like object fell from the sky and went straight through his foot and into the kayak below.
“Who would have thought? You know, you go out fishing, and you end up taking an arrow to the foot,” Cory Hendrickson told Fox 21 News.
Authorities say the “arrow” came from fireworks launched from the shore. Hendrickson is recovering, but investigation is ongoing, as authorities search for information on who fired the fireworks and why.
Fireworks launched
Hendrickson set out on Fish Lake on August 10 in hopes of catching some walleye. At first, things were going smoothly, and Hendrickson noticed nothing out of the ordinary. However, things took a turn when people on the shoreline began launching fireworks toward the lake. According to authorities, as they continued to fire the fireworks, they came increasingly closer to Hendrickson.
“And then a matter of seconds later, I hear this noise in the air, and I had my headlamp, my red headlamp, and I looked up, and all of a sudden, the arrow came down right into impaled my foot, right into the bottom of my kayak,” Hendrickson told Fox 21 News.
Hendrickson screamed and the people launching fireworks fled, jumping in vehicles and driving away. Pinned to his kayak by the arrow, he called 911 and was told to remain where he was on the water until authorities arrived. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, which responded to Hendrickson’s call, confirmed that he was struck by “what appeared to be a piece of firework debris.” First responders treated Hendrickson on scene, cutting the “arrow” in order to free him from his kayak and transport him to a hospital in Duluth, Minnesota.
“I could not lift my foot off my kayak,” Hendrickson said. “So they had to cut the top off the arrow, and then underneath my foot, they also had to cut in order for me to move my foot.”
Investigation ongoing
Hendrickson was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and was sent home the following day with crutches. He is now back on his feet and feels grateful he was not more seriously injured. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the incident and is urging anyone with information to call their office.
Hendrickson, an avid angler who frequents Minnesota lakes, says he doesn’t want the event to hold anyone back from visiting Fish Lake. However, as authorities search for the culprits, he recommends people stay aware of their surroundings.
“I wouldn’t discourage anyone from going. Just keep your head on a swivel, and I probably wouldn’t go there at night,” he told Fox 21 News.
