Man dies at Lake Ann Park in Chanhassen after kayaking without life jacket

A 36-year-old Eden Prairie man possibly drowned at Lake Ann Park after entering the water from a kayak without a life jacket, prompting renewed calls for water safety, according to the Carver County Sheriff's Office. Response to death at Lake Ann Park Carver County Sheriff Jason Kamerud said deputies responded to multiple 911 calls around 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, after witnesses saw a man go underwater and not resurface. The man was last seen just beyond the designated beach area on a kayak and was not wearing a life jacket. The Carver County Dive Team was activated and, after a search, recovered the man’s body. Authorities identified him as Earnest Corderia Claiborn, 36, of Eden Prairie. A brief but severe storm passed through the area during the incident, temporarily delaying recovery efforts until it was safe for responders. However, authorities do not believe the storm contributed to the man entering the water. The Carver County Sheriff's Office is working with the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office to investigate the circumstances of the drowning. The Chanhassen Fire Department, Ridgeview Ambulance Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources assisted in the response. Water safety reminders and community outreach The Carver County Sheriff's Office is reminding everyone to make water safety a priority when enjoying Minnesota's lakes and rivers. "Wearing a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent drowning. Whether boating, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, or participating in other water activities, a life jacket can save your life. We encourage everyone to plan ahead, be aware of changing water and weather conditions, and make safe choices while enjoying the outdoors." "We called him Cord for short. He was a very fun-loving person. He was – of all of our kids, he had the biggest heart, and he had two kids," his father, Earnest Claiborn, told FOX 9. "He even Facetimed Maddie [his girlfriend] while he was on the kayak. I guess it was shortly after he got into the lake. Everything was fine then and after she got off Facetime with him, she was never able to regain contact with him." "We were very close, so I’m definitely going to miss that bond that he had with me as his mother," said Hazel Claiborn, his mother. "So, it’s just an empty void, and a great loss." Drownings are a concern across Minnesota, especially during the busy summer months when lakes and rivers are popular destinations. The Carver County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the drowning and encourages the public to take water safety seriously. Authorities have not yet released further details about what led to the man entering the water or whether any other factors contributed to the potential drowning.