BELTRAMI COUNTY, Minn. — A man has sustained life-threatening cold weather exposure injuries following a medical and mental health crisis on Thursday in Ten Lakes Township.

According to a release from Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs, at approximately 7 p.m. on Thursday, dispatch received a call of a male party experiencing a medical emergency in Ten Lakes Township following consumption of “illicit drugs and over-the-counter medication.”

Leech Lake Ambulance was then dispatched to the residence and while first responders were attempting to aid the man, he fled into the woods. He was not dressed for the weather conditions with temperatures around 10 degrees below zero, the release said.

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Beltrami County deputies and Leech Lake officers responded to the area to search for the subject. Approximately an hour later a resident reported that a person matching the description approached their residence and then walked onto Big Lake.

Deputies and officers began searching the lake for the man and found him about half a mile from the shoreline. He was only wearing a light sweatshirt, pants and tennis shoes, the release said.

“The man appeared to be impaired and had armed himself with two large knives and was attempting to inflict self-harm,” Riggs said in the release. “Deputies attempted to deescalate the situation ultimately using a taser to disarm the subject.”

He was then secured in handcuffs as he was still “attempting to fight law enforcement,” the release said.

An ambulance was requested to the shoreline to provide emergency medical care. Due to unknown ice conditions, resources were limited and deputies used a backboard to bring him to shore where lifesaving efforts were performed.

The man was then transported to the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center for treatment of cold weather exposure and medical issues before being later transferred to Sanford Fargo in critical condition.

Beltrami County was assisted by the Leech Lake Police Department, Leech Lake Ambulance and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

This case is currently under investigation by the Minnesota BCA and no further information is available.