Afton State Park drowning victim identified as Minneapolis dancer and yoga instructor

The man who drowned July 3 in the St. Croix River at Afton State Park was Jeremey Andrew Paulson, 27, of Minneapolis, authorities said Monday. His name had been held pending notification of relatives.

Paulson was a dancer and yoga instructor who had hoped to open his own dance studio, according to a GoFundMe page created to assist with memorial service. The page raised more than $11,000 of a $15,000 goal as of Monday evening.

“He has been an inspiration to his family, friends, and community,” Paulson’s sister, Andrea Kirk, wrote on the page. “This unexpected loss has been very challenging for friends and family of Jeremey.

“He had a heart of gold, even though he was going through battles of his own.”

Paulson was swimming near the state park campgrounds Wednesday morning when he went under, witnesses said. The river was about 12 feet deep in the area where he had been swimming. His body was recovered later that day in about 18 feet of water by the Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Department.

The river was at minor flood stage last week.

Staff writer Elliot Hughes contributed to this story.