Teen drowns in fall off paddleboard on Utah family outing. Loved ones want to know why
A mourning family is searching for answers in the death of a 15-year-old after he fell from a paddleboard and disappeared in a Utah reservoir, officials said.
Landon Crook was paddleboarding with his family just before 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3, in Sand Hollow State Park when he suddenly fell from the board and didn’t resurface, state park officials said in a news release.
People nearby searched for him and called for help. First responders found his body in 25 feet of water around 12:30 p.m., officials said.
It was a hot day, with a water surface temperature of 80 degrees and calm weather, officials said. Crook wasn’t wearing a life jacket and officials don’t know whether one was on his board at the time.
“We don’t know if there was a medical issue that caused him to come off the paddleboard or not. There was some speculation of that, but unfortunately he didn’t survive,” Sgt. Darrell Cashin with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office told KSLTV. “Most of his family was here. There were parents and grandparents and cousins and all of them were really struggling with it.”
Officials urged those who spend time outdoors in the summer to “prioritize safety” by recreating with a buddy or in groups, wearing life jackets and helmets, and making sure to let others know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
“Checking weather conditions and water temperatures is also vital,” officials said in the release. “Pack appropriate gear for your activity and stay hydrated while outdoors.”
“It turned out to be a pretty awful day for these folks,” Cashin said, according to KSLTV. “What we are looking for is to get some answers for that family. ... We want the truth and that’s what we are looking for.”
This story was originally published August 4, 2023 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Teen drowns in fall off paddleboard on Utah family outing. Loved ones want to know why."
