News LIVE: Drowning at Quail Creek State Park; Updated 10 p.m.

Park officials, reponders and divers search for the body of a drowned man at Quail Creek Reservoir, Hurricane, Utah, June 15, 2015 | Photo by Jessica Tempfer, St. George News

NEWS LIVE: This report contains news live as it develops and is being updated continuously. Bookmark and refresh the page periodically for updates. 

Updates

  • 8:55 p.m. | Swimmer’s distance from dock added | Per Laura Melling
  • 9:30 p.m. | Swimmer’s body located
  • 10 p.m. | Recovery of swimmer’s body confirmed

HURRICANE – The Washington County Search and Rescue Dive Team and other agencies were dispatched to Quail Creek State Park following the report of a drowning Monday evening.

Sand Hollow Complex Park Manager Laura Melling, who also oversees Quail Creek, confirmed that a 35-year-old, out-of-state man is suspected to have drowned in the reservoir.

At 9:30 p.m., Melling confirmed the man’s body was located in 18 feet of water near the fishing pier. The dive teams are currently working to bring the body to the surface, though it may take some time due to having to work in the dark, Melling said.

The family has been notified, as as well as the medical examiner and the Washington County Attorney’s Office.

“We have no reason to suspect that it’s anything but an accident,” Melling said of the incident, adding that the medical examiner and county attorney are contacted as a matter of procedure.

The man’s body was confirmed to be recovered and out of the water shortly before 10 p.m.

Shortly before 7 p.m., the man was in the water, swimming about 500 feet out from the dock when he began to call for help. Members of his family tried to help him but had trouble and ended up having to swim back to shore and called 911, Melling said.

At one point, the man went under the water and did not resurface.

Melling said there is currently a dive team out on the water looking for the man’s body.

“We’re in recovery now,” she said. “… It could take a few minutes to a few hours.”

This is a developing story, refresh page for updates.

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