A 71-year-old man drowned at Deer Creek Reservoir on Wednesday. He’s the second person to drown at the popular Wasatch County recreation area in two weeks.
Wednesday afternoon Daniel Thompson, a 71-year-old man from Newport, Tennessee was boating with friends and family between Wallsburg Bay and Rainbow Cove in Deer Creek Reservoir.
Around 1:30 pm Thompson’s hat fell into the water, he jumped into the lake to retrieve it without a life jacket. Thompson was unable to stay afloat, a member of his party jumped in to help, but was unsuccessful, party members also called 9-1-1 seeking help.
Utah State Parks responded quickly to the area where an immediate search began with help from Wasatch County Search and Rescue and the Sheriff’s Department. Thompson’s body was recovered around 8:30 Wednesday evening.
Thompsons death is the second drowning at Deer Creek in two weeks. On Sunday, June 28, 24-year-old Jose Antonio Fuentes-Alvarez drowned near the Rainbow Bay area. The Salt Lake County man was also not wearing a life jacket.
Utah State Parks reminds those recreating on Utah’s waterbodies, to always swim with a buddy and wear a life jacket.