GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA — An 81-year-old man drowned at Lake Powell Wednesday evening, officials said.
According to a joint news release issued Friday by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the incident happened at approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday, when emergency responders were called to the area of Cedar Canyon on a report of a possible drowning.
National Park Service Rangers, along with a Utah State Parks Officer, responded from Bullfrog and located the reporting party in Cedar Canyon, the news release states.
“Rangers confirmed that Jimmie D. Randall, an 81-year-old male, had drowned attempting to secure a vessel to a houseboat,” the release indicates. “The male victim was not wearing a life jacket at the time he fell into the water. His fishing partner dove into the water in an attempt to rescue but was unsuccessful.”
The man’s body was recovered Thursday when the National Park Service Rangers, Utah State Parks Officer and a San Juan Sheriff’s deputy conducted a dive operation and located the body in 44 feet of water at approximately 46 feet from the shore.
The victim’s body was transferred over to San Juan County Sheriff Department and will be transported to Salt Lake City for an autopsy. The case is still under investigation.
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