The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

June 22, 2009

Man in campfire from Wells

WASECA — The Waseca County Sheriff’s Department has released the name of a Wells man found dead in a campfire pit Saturday at Kiesler’s Campground & RV Resort in Waseca.

Gary Huper, 58, was a registered guest at the campground. Huper was found by other campers around 8:30 p.m. and was believed to be already be deceased, deputies said in a news release.

The incident is being treated as an “undetermined death” and is still under investigation, the release said. An autopsy has been scheduled at the Ramsey County Medical Examiners Office.

Alden Patton, who was at a nearby campground at the time of the incident and is a first responder, ran over to help the man, said Charlene Cukla of Blaine. When they got to the man, the couple and a third man threw a wet towel on him.

“We rolled him over and realized he had expired,” Cukla said.

Cukla and others said that, though there was a cry for help, nothing was heard from the victim. They suspected his death was caused by a medical condition that occurred prior to him falling in the fire.

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