A summer outing at Bear Lake turned tragic yesterday when a 17-year-old from Arizona drowned after falling from a paddleboard, according to local authorities.
Witnesses told investigators the teen became separated from his board and slipped under the water. They called for help as multiple emergency crews, including a helicopter unit, rushed to the scene. Bystanders began CPR on shore, and first responders continued life-saving efforts, but the teen could not be resuscitated, as reported by KSLTV.
Police say the teen was not wearing a life jacket when he fell from the paddleboard. His name has not been released, and officials say the death remains under investigation.
Popular Lake, Cold Water, Real Risks
Bear Lake sits on the Utah-Idaho border and is a major summer draw for boating, swimming, and paddleboarding, with several public beaches and marinas. Visit Utah notes that the lake’s famously blue waters can stay cold well into June, which can sap a swimmer’s strength and make rescues more difficult.
The incident underscores a stubborn national trend. Where the cause of death was known, 87% of drowning victims in recreational boating incidents were not wearing life jackets, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Officials Repeat a Simple Message: Wear the Vest
Local officials are again urging visitors to stick to basic safety steps on the water, including wearing a life jacket and carrying a whistle or other way to signal for help while paddleboarding.
The 17-year-old Arizona resident has not been publicly identified because of his age, and the case remains under investigation, according to KSLTV.
Safety advocates say paddlers should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device, stay within sight of shore, and head out with a buddy, recommendations outlined by the National Safe Boating Council.
