It happened near the Apostle Islands, which are east of Duluth on the north side of Wisconsin.

The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed to BMTN that four people were killed in a kayaking accident late Thursday on Lake Superior. It's since been learned that the four victims are a father and his three children.

The mother was the lone survivor, according to the Ashland County Sheriff's Department.

The kayak the family of five was in capsized around 8:30 p.m. with the mother telling authorities that she became separated from her family. She texted her sister messages saying "911" and "Michigan Island."

A search and rescue led by the U.S. Coast Guard was launched and they were able to save the mother from the water off the west shore of Madeline Island, which is part of the Apostle Islands on the northern side of Wisconsin.

Strong thunderstorms in the area made search conditions difficult, but the father and two of the children were recovered from the water after midnight, with third child's body found in the water around 10 a.m. Friday.

"This is truly a sad day. Give your kids a hug tell them you love them. This family weighs heavily in our hearts," the La Pointe Police Department said in a Facebook message.