Salt Lake City, Utah – Father from Utah Drowned over the weekend Authorities said the incident occurred during an attempt to rescue a young woman whose son had jumped into a nearby lake in an attempt to save her during bad weather.
According to the Utah State Parks Department, Andre Leon DeBose, 38, of Layton, was swimming and boating with his 17-year-old son when a thunderstorm hit Willard Bay State Park near Eagle Beach just before 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Park rangers said a 19-year-old woman was swimming in the water and began to struggle. DeBose’s son saw her in distress and jumped in to help. Rangers said the woman was wearing a life jacket and was able to safely return to the boat.
But before DeBose could rejoin the boat, his son began to struggle in the water, and witnesses said DeBose jumped from the boat to help him.
Rangers said the pair were in the water holding on to one life jacket, and while DeBose went underwater and did not resurface, her son was able to get back into the boat.
After an extensive search by local police, emergency responders found Ms DeBose’s body in the water at approximately 11:15pm, and her son was examined by medical personnel at the scene and released.
The rangers say drowning is Second drowning It will be held later this week at Willard Bay State Park.
“As the recreation season continues, we urge all outdoor participants to make safety their number one priority,” rangers stressed. “Always recreation with a companion, wear a life jacket and be aware of weather conditions. Let someone know where you will be and when you expect to be home.”
