WASATCH COUNTY, Utah -- Search and rescue crews have recovered the remains of a 32-year-old man who went missing at Deer Creek Reservoir Saturday.
Officials at the scene confirmed just after 7 p.m. that the missing kayaker is deceased and crews have recovered his remains. The identity of the deceased has not been released.
Officials said they must first notify his family, who all reportedly live in India.
Sgt. Drew Patterson with Utah State Parks said the 32-year-old man was kayaking with his wife when the kayak somehow overturned.
The Wasatch County Sheriff's Office states a family from the Orem area was boating nearby and jumped into the water to rescue the woman, who had gone under the water.
"We drove over there as fast as we could, and right before we got to them the second person, who ended up being the husband, went under and he didn't come back up," said Kayla Kinckley, who was among those who rescued the woman.
The man, who was not wearing a life jacket, did not resurface. Although the nearby good Samaritans tried to locate the man, they were unable to find him.
"If they had their life jackets on, obviously we wouldn't be doing a body recovery," Patterson said.
Authorities were alerted to the missing kayaker at 3:20 p.m. Efforts shifted from a search and rescue to a recovery after the man did not turn up on the shoreline.
Wasatch County Search and Rescue soon brought in their sonar equipment and were able to locate the man before divers had to enter the water.
Sgt. Patterson said, from speaking with some friends, he learned the man was from Illinois. He was doing some work or going to school there and came to Utah to spend some time with his wife, who has been living here.
