Tragic Drowning Incident Claims Life of Omaha Basketball Player

Den Mayal, a 22-year-old basketball player for Omaha, tragically drowned on Saturday at Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman, Utah, as announced by the school the following day.

The unfortunate event involved Mayal and 21-year-old Sa Mafutaga, who both struggled in the water. Mafutaga managed to make it to shore with help from a bystander and attempted to reach Mayal but was unable to do so. Emergency services were summoned to respond to the incident.

According to reports, rescue teams struggled to locate Mayal for several hours before eventually using a robot to assist in the search. Mafutaga was taken to the hospital but is expected to recover.

Omaha’s head coach Chris Crutchfield expressed deep sorrow over Mayal’s passing, stating, “Our entire program is devastated to learn about Deng’s passing. He made significant strides this summer, and we were thrilled to have him on our team.” He added that his thoughts and prayers are with Mayal’s family, friends, and teammates.

Mayal had transferred to Omaha after two seasons playing at North Dakota. North Dakota’s coach, Paul Suther, shared his condolences as well, saying, “Our hearts are broken. Den was a fantastic person, and our thoughts are with his family and all his teammates.”

Mayal was remembered for his competitive spirit on the court and his gentle nature off of it. His loss will be deeply felt by everyone who knew him.