A 31-year-old man drowned over the weekend after jumping into a reservoir in Utah to save his 12-year-old sister-in-law, who was drifting on an inflatable tube, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
The man, Daniel Braga Figueiredo, borrowed a paddle board and went out to assist the girl before 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Silver Lake Flat Reservoir, located just over an hour's drive southeast of Salt Lake City.
Witnesses reported seeing Figueiredo struggling to help the girl onto an inflatable device before he disappeared beneath the water. His body was recovered from the reservoir at 9:30 p.m., while the girl survived.
Austin Isbell, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Outdoor Recreation, stated that Figueiredo helped the girl onto the paddle board but was unable to board or hold onto it himself, leading to his drowning. Neither the girl nor Figueiredo was wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.
Isbell emphasized the importance of life jacket use, particularly during the busy summer season, and noted that the incident was preventable. He clarified that the girl was struggling to paddle back to shore but was not in immediate danger.
According to Isbell, all vessels, including boats, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and canoes, must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable personal flotation device or life jacket for each passenger.
The water temperature at the reservoir was approximately 71 degrees Fahrenheit, which is considered a cautionary level according to the National Center for Cold Water Safety.
Statistics from the American Red Cross indicate that about 4,000 people die from unintentional drowning each year in the United States, with many of the victims being children. The Red Cross advises against attempting rescues without proper training and encourages calling for help instead.
A 2017 study by the University of Memphis and University of Nevada highlighted significant gaps in access to swimming lessons, revealing that over 60 percent of Black children, 45 percent of Hispanic children, and 40 percent of white children have little or no swimming ability. The study also found that 79 percent of children from households with incomes below $50,000 lack adequate swimming skills.
The Silver Lake Flat Reservoir is situated in the mountains of American Fork Canyon, near the Lone Peak Wilderness.