According to police reports, a 71-year-old man from Montpelier has been identified as the victim in a canoe accident on Lake Champlain in North Hero. The incident occurred on October 21, 2025, when the canoe capsized while the two occupants were near Knight Island State Park.
Police say that both men were wearing personal flotation devices but became separated in the water. One man, Paul Council, 67, managed to swim to Knight Island and sought shelter at a caretaker’s residence. He alerted authorities the following morning after finding a canoe to row back to North Hero. Emergency responders were dispatched after a resident reported seeing a body floating approximately two miles from the capsized canoe’s location.
The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office has completed the autopsy, determining that the cause of death was drowning and classifying it as an accidental incident. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Charges and court dates are subject to change. This Montpelier autopsy completed story highlights important developments. The Montpelier autopsy completed situation continues to develop.
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Source: Vermont State Police
canoe accident drowning investigation Lake Champlain North Hero Vermont State Police
Last modified: October 27, 2025
