UPDATE: DNR personnel said late Wednesday night they spoke with witnesses who reported seeing two people swimming from a boat and coming out of the water in good condition Monday. Davis County Dispatch reports they were contacted by the owner of the boat, who said he was OK and would pick up the vessel Thursday.
Previous story continues below:
SALT LAKE CITY -- A sailboat with a note stating, "I swam to shore" was found floating in Great Salt Lake Wednesday, and Department of Natural Resources personnel are performing a welfare check to make sure the person who abandoned ship is OK.
The sailboat was discovered about 3 miles off shore by a DNR boat, and crews were towing it part of the way to Antelope Island, as it's too shallow to take it all the way.
A note affixed to a cooler on the boat stated "I swam to shore" and included a name.
"It was anchored out there with no occupants" said Lt. Eric Stucki Of DNR. "That name that was on the note is not the same as the registered owner, so we are trying to see who is who."
Officials said the sailboat appears to be in working order, and a life vest was found strung up on the mast. Officials aren't sure at this point if anyone is in any danger or not, but officers are going to the homes of the boat's owner and the note writer to check on each person.
While it is unclear what happened, Stucki said it would have been very possible for the individual to swim to shore.
"It's very likely they can, remember, it's salt water, you do float in this water," he said. "Especially if he had a life jacket, very likely he could."
FOX 13 News has reached out to officials for more details and has a crew at the scene, and we will update this story as more information becomes available.
