Man dies after being pulled from water at Sand Hollow State Park

HURRICANE – A man was pulled from the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir early Thursday afternoon. He was described as suffering drowning-like symptoms and was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center in critical condition. He was later confirmed to have passed away.

Hurricane Fire and Rescue responded to a call at 1:15 p.m., Kevin Gildea, firefighter/paramedic, said. He said the man was out of the water when Hurricane Fire arrived.

The man, in his 20s, was swimming and was out with some other people when he had difficulties, Sand Hollow State Park Manager Laura Melling said.

The man was swimming up toward the rocks on the northwest side near the main boat ramp, she said. He was brought in to the main boat ramp.

“He was either with friends or someone got him and brought him to shore,” Melling said. “My staff at the park started CPR and got the ambulance to come and transport him.”

Melling said she was later updated by DRMC staff around 6 p.m. that the man had passed away.

The victim’s name will not be released until after family has been notified.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.

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14 Comments

  • Mary July 4, 2013 at 6:48 pm

    Wow how sad 🙁 I didn’t know someone could die after being pulled out!

  • Ruston Wilcox July 4, 2013 at 6:50 pm

    I wish i could have got to him sooner. My prayers are with his family and friends.

  • Annie July 4, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    This is so sad. I’m so sorry to hear this. I want to think of a way to prevent this tragedy. Is it my imagination or are there way too many water deaths per capita in Southern Utah? Do other water sporting areas have the same amount of accidents? Its so tragic.

  • Carly July 4, 2013 at 8:47 pm

    @ Mary. People are very rarely revived after drowning. That only happens in the movies.

    • Mary July 5, 2013 at 8:19 am

      Maybe I misread but it sounded like he got out of the water or was pulled out and was revived and then transported to the hospital where he died. Either way it’s very sad 🙁

  • Brandon July 4, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    Wow how sad. I was at Sand Hollow this morning fishing and must have left right before this happened. Prayers with the family.

  • Gary July 5, 2013 at 2:00 am

    Every drowning is tragic. My prayers are with the family. On a side note doesn’t this site have a stock photo of Sand Hollow to use for the story instead of a picture of some other reservoir?

  • Wendy July 5, 2013 at 1:14 pm

    This is very tragic and should not have happened! This artical is not acurate. As my husband along with two others performed CPR while I was directing traffic and taking pictures. The DNR staff at Sand Hollow were very unprepared and did not have any equipment on hand and did NOT do any CPR. It was well over 30 minutes before the fire department arrived and 45 minutes before the ambulance arrived. This really opened my eyes to a situation that needs to be looked into and the state needs to have better trained employees.

    • Christina July 8, 2013 at 4:52 pm

      Wendy, have you considered contacting Sand Hollow? I am going to and would encourage you and/or your husband to as well. I also want to know where the mask came from since it didnt have the valve in it. I’m not trying to critisize, just wanting them to identify what additional training is meeded. I believe everyone involved did the best they knew how and should do everything they can to learn from the situation.

  • Christina July 5, 2013 at 9:15 pm

    I couldn’t agree more about the inaccuracy of this article. I was one of the people that performed CPR, and I agree that better training and equipment should be available for all the employees. I was really surprised they didn’t have any protective equipment such as a mouth barrier or mask. I’m sure the DNR has never been in this situation and once he saw those completing CPR working he asked if we were nurses. Two of us were, so he stepped back but still took a turn with compressions as we tired. I am shocked that the people that sit at the ramp all day don’t have any equipment or sense to guide traffic and get the ambulance there. So many strangers attempted to help this man and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I don’t know which man was your husband, but both were great and I’m grateful they were there.

  • Justin July 8, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    When are they going to release the name of the Drowning Victim? Sending Prayers and Condolences to those who were afftected by this tragedy.

  • chase July 9, 2013 at 1:37 pm

    OK! I have read all the comments and I must say I am shocked by what I am reading. How can any of you comment and say all these things? A man died and it as if you are trying to pin his death on someone else. this is horrible for everyone involved, No one is ever prepared for a situation like this EVER! it does not matter if you are a Dr, nurse, EMT, ALS you are never 100% prepared. You show up and do all and everything you can. Ya sometimes it may seem like you did not do a good job, BUT you did something! There is nothing anyone could have done for this man. It is a terrible situation and I feel for the family. But to try to place blame on someone else is bull crap!. I am proud of the people who did all they could to help! the fact that they tried means everything! Does anyone realize that the people that you are questioning are reading these comments and are having to live with what you are saying? Think about what you are writing people. the park staff did all they could do, They are not medics or nurses, that would be impossible to be both. Please just think before you type.

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