Jun 22 2009
Utah Lake Boaters Search
SAR units responded Monday evening to a boat that sank with six passengers in Utah Lake. SAR searched until 4:30 a.m. on the water and through extensive thick reeds and found 5 of the 6 individuals who were exhausted after swimming for 3 hours and clambering through the reeds looking for shore.
The fifth boater located using night vision goggles and found floating about a mile off shore had such severe hypothermia that he didn’t even respond as the boat approached. His core temperature was around 74 degrees. Several miracles, along with a life jacket, made the difference between this rescue and a second tragedy.
Boats, wave runners, an airplane, helicopters (DPS, Life Flight, and a SAR member’s personal craft), and foot teams deployed from shore were used in the search.
The team resumed the search in the morning for the final passenger, and teams and family members continued the search for six days, recovering the boat and many items before locating the final victim who drown.
Our regrets go out to family and friends.
I am the wife of joe Rajsavong one of the victims the Utah Lake boat that was capsized. On Saturday June 27 our friend Lon was found and will be laid to peace. Our family and close friends would like to thank the Search and Rescue team who were highly involved in this search recovery. Kevin Dickerson and Jeff who rescued my brother Chans Mixayboua and Lon’s brother Souk Thonon. Both of the Search and Rescue men spent day and night trying to search for Lon. Their courage and dedication will be remembered greatly. We thank you!!