Three notable events for EMS crew Belland, Bjugstad, Richardson, Wallen, Lima, and Homyak.
June 2023 – Beth Lake
May 2025 – Kelly Lake
August 2025 – Kiskadinna Lake
Prior to the Beth Lake rescue, being called out all-day (or night) on a rescue to the Boundary Waters … by canoe … didn’t cross our mind much.
We certainly didn’t think we’d end up in a canoe in the middle of the lake with a seizing patient that could’ve capsized us like we experienced on the Beth Lake rescue.
We weren’t expecting to canoe over three lakes with nothing but headlamps and the light of the moon to get to our very ill patient on the Kelly Lake rescue.
And we definitely didn’t think we’d be spending 12 hours trudging and paddling over 8 miles to reach a patient five lakes over off of Kiskadinna Lake.
Yet, here we are.
With a crew that does what needs to be done.
My sincere gratitude and appreciation to Ben Belland, Eric Bjugstad, Shalom Richardson, Ashleigh Wallen, Garrett Lima, and Chris Homyak for going above and beyond in patient care.
They have more than earned this recognition of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness EMS Paddle & Rescue certificate and pin.
The work they do matters! – Karla, Director of EMS