Grace Rhine Obituary, Blaine MN, Spring Lake Park Drowning Leaves 2 Dead

Grace Rhine Obituary, Death Cause – The community of Blaine, Minnesota, and Spring Lake Park High School are mourning the untimely loss of one of their own, 17-year-old Tim Cao Nguyen. The young teenager tragically drowned in Coon Lake, Anoka County, on a fateful Saturday night. Tim was a beloved junior at Spring Lake Park High School, known for his radiant smile and kindness. John Franke, the associate principal at the school, fondly remembered Tim, saying, “Tim had a huge heart. If you were to ask almost any student in this building and all the staff, they’d most definitely echo the idea that he had the biggest smile in the building. Bright, bright smile and really loved everyone.” Tim’s positivity and warmth had a lasting impact on his peers and teachers alike.

In the wake of this devastating loss, Tim’s classmates gathered on Sunday to write heartfelt messages in chalk inside his regular parking space at school. The messages described him as a loving, caring, and honest individual, reflecting the profound impact he had on those around him. Franke further emphasized Tim’s role as a leader within the school community, saying, “He was involved in all sorts of things. Most definitely a leader in the building just in regards to how to be a Panther, so to speak… He was a big part of our building. The tragic incident unfolded on Saturday evening when the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call around 8 p.m., reporting a person missing in the waters of Coon Lake, located approximately 30 miles north of the Twin Cities. Bystanders at the scene quickly rallied together upon hearing cries for help.

Denis Bardashevskiy, who was present at the lake with his friends, recalled the frantic moments, saying, “After a few minutes, we heard them yelling, screaming help, and so everyone from the beach just took off running into the direction. They said that their friend was underwater for like two minutes.” The group of bystanders formed a determined rescue team and eventually located Tim at the lake’s bottom, approximately 40 yards from the shore. Quick-thinking actions by Denis Bardashevskiy’s friend, who used a jet ski to bring Tim to shore, proved crucial. First responders performed CPR at the scene before Tim was airlifted to the Hennepin County Medical Center. Tragically, despite their efforts, Tim Cao Nguyen was pronounced dead at the hospital.