The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has honoured a conservation officer who works in the International Falls area with a lifesaving award.

The award recognizes Curtis Simonson’s role in the search for Donald Larson, an 80-year-old man, who went missing in July.

A search was initiated the next day with the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office, with additional support from the St. Louis County Rescue Squad called upon.

Simonson offered his support and checked area trails, where he found the man’s jeep stuck in the middle of the trail and the man lying on his side in mud and water.

It had rained overnight, and the man was covered with mud and flies.

Authorities later learned the man had travelled down the trail and got stuck in the mud.

When he got out of the vehicle, he fell.

Simonson transported the man to an awaiting ambulance, which took him to the hospital, where he was released the following day.

“Donald thought he was going to die,” said Lt. Matt Frericks, who supervises conservation officers in the northeastern portion of Minnesota.

“He and his wife both believe that CO Simonson saved his life.”