39-year-old Fargo man pronounced dead after being pulled from Red River Monday afternoon
Fargo, North Dakota – A tragic water rescue operation unfolded Monday afternoon along the Red River near the Main Avenue bridge in Fargo, ending in the death of a local man.
According to authorities, at approximately 2:35 p.m. on March 2, the Fargo Fire Department and Fargo Police Department were dispatched to the river after witnesses reported seeing an adult male walking on the ice before he fell through into the water. As temperatures begin to rise in the region, ice conditions have become increasingly unstable.
Search and rescue effort on the Red River
When emergency crews arrived on scene, they immediately began search and rescue operations. The situation required a coordinated response as first responders worked against time and frigid water conditions to locate the individual.
At approximately 3:38 p.m., crews located the man in the river and removed him from the water. He was identified as a 39-year-old Fargo resident. The man was transported to a local medical facility, where he was later pronounced deceased. Authorities stated that his name will not be released until next of kin has been notified.
Multiple agencies assisted during the response, including the Moorhead Fire Department, Moorhead Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office in Fargo, and Sanford Ambulance. Their joint effort highlighted the seriousness of the emergency and the risks faced by first responders during cold-water rescues.
Officials are reminding residents that river ice conditions are especially dangerous this time of year. As temperatures rise, ice weakens and deteriorates quickly. Authorities emphasized that river ice differs significantly from lake ice. Because rivers have a steady current flowing beneath the surface, the ice is often thinner, less stable, and far more unpredictable.
The incident remains under investigation. No additional information has been released at this time.
Officials continue to urge the public to avoid walking on river ice and to exercise extreme caution near waterways during seasonal temperature changes.
