A man in his 40s drowned yesterday afternoon at Quail Creek State Park, Utah, during a paddle boarding excursion that turned tragic when the wind intensified. As reported by ABC4, the incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. when the victim, who was camping with a group, was knocked off his paddle board and into the water alongside two others due to strong winds. Although the two companions managed to safely return to shore, the man, whose identity has not been released, was found face down in the water.
Efforts to rescue the man were quickly launched, involving both a member of the public and a ranger from the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. According to KSL NewsRadio, officials detailed how CPR was administered at the boat ramp and despite Life Flight being dispatched, the man was pronounced dead at the scene between 5:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. There remains uncertainty as to whether his death was due to drowning or a medical incident.
This ambiguity extends to the ongoing investigation as to the cause of death. As KUTV reports, the medical examiner was on the scene to carefully investigate whether it was a drowning or if a possible medical condition might have led to the fatality. The man's identity is still being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
