A 12-year-old boy from Arizona has lost his life after being swept away by the strong currents of the Provo River in Utah. The victim had been visiting the area near Bridal Veil Falls with his family on Saturday afternoon when the tragic incident occurred.
As reported by FOX10 Phoenix, the boy fell into the river around 1:45 p.m. Efforts to rescue the child were immediate, with multiple agencies responding and a rescuer even attempting a risky jump into the swift waters to save the youth. However, despite these efforts, the result was a somber one as the child was carried downstream at speeds estimated between 10 to 12 mph, according to authorities.
The Utah County Sheriff's Office indicated that the boy was eventually recovered nearly 4 miles from where he initially fell into the river. He was taken to a nearby hospital where, after being initially rescued, he was pronounced dead.
"It is EXTREMELY dangerous to recreate anywhere nearby - PLEASE STAY AWAY," the Provo Police Department emphasized in a social media post regarding the hazardous conditions of the Provo River. Their warning followed a declaration of an "Emergency Level 1" alert by the Bureau of Reclamation on Friday, due to high flows from Deer Creek Dam that could cause minor flooding. Information on the risk posed by the river's condition, as detailed by FOX10 Phoenix.
According to AZFamily in an interview with Sgt. Spencer Cannon from the Utah County Sheriff's Office, a firefighter trained in swift-water rescue ultimately succeeded in pulling the child from the water. The boy, subjected to the icy waters for over 30 minutes, is suspected to have succumbed to hypothermia caused by cold spring runoff.
