Minnesotan hunting in North Dakota drowns trying to save dog

A Minnesotan hunting in North Dakota with a partner drowned in a slough while trying to rescue their dog after it attempted to retrieve a bird, officials said.

The incident occurred in the Eszlinger Waterfowl Production Area on Nov. 12 in the southeastern part of the state, according to the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office.

The body of Christopher Hendricks, 30, of Champlin was recovered by a dive team on Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office said.

“According to the State Forensic Examiner’s Office,” a Sheriff’s Office statement read, “no autopsy will be performed since Hendricks’ death was a witnessed drowning with no foul play suspected.”

According to Hendricks’ obituary, “Chris loved the outdoors. He was the happiest when he was out in nature. He hunted ducks, geese, and occasionally turkey. This was a passion he has had for years.”

The obituary added that where Hendricks was hunting “is a well known and loved hunting area for the Hendricks family, Chris and his friends.”

At the time of his death, Hendricks was working for powersports vehicle maker Polaris in the Twin Cities, the obituary added.

Hendricks was hunting with 31-year-old Maxwell DiVenere of Indianapolis when their dog went to retrieve a bird that one of them had shot in the morning. The dog reached the bird about 100 yards from shore but got caught in a sheet of ice and struggled to get free.

Hendricks swam out and got ahold of the dog but was soon in distress, prompting DiVenere to go in after Hendricks and the dog.

DiVenere told Sheriff Steven Delzer that he and Hendricks were holding onto each other until Hendricks let go and went below the surface. DiVenere said he feared for his own safety and returned to shore with the dog. He reported the incident to emergency officials shortly before 1 p.m.

Fire and rescue personnel arrived and took DiVenere to a nearby hospital for treatment of exhaustion and exposure.