A father has been declared a hero after he drowned trying to save his son, who was rescuing a young woman during a recent storm.
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In an Aug. 11 statement, the Utah State Parks confirmed that Andre Leon Debose from Layton, Utah fell victim to drowning while swimming at Williard State Park. He had been swimming and boating with his 17-year-old when a storm came through.
“One swimmer, a 19-year-old woman, began to struggle while in the water,” the statement reads. “Seeing her struggle, Debose’s son jumped in the water to help. The woman was wearing a life jacket and was able to be brought back aboard the boat safely.”
Unfortunately, before he could get back into the board, Debose’s son began to struggle while in the water. Witnesses say that the father then jumped from the boat to help his son. While in the water, the two of them were holding onto one life jacket.
Debose went under the water but did not resurface. His son was able to make it back to the boat. The father drowned amid the storm. Emergency crews recovered his body from the water at around 11:15 p.m.
His son was checked out on the scene by medical responders and cleared.
The Father Drowned Days After Another Incident at Willard Bay State Park Occurred
According to the Utah State Parks, this is the second drowning at Willard Bay State Park within the week.
On Saturday, Aug. 3, Robert Mittendorf, a Weber County resident, was swimming with his son near their boat when a sudden storm swept through the area. The father-son duo had been swimming without life jackets when they became separated from their boat.
Mittendorf’s son managed to swim back to retrieve a life jacket for his father. However, Mittendorf went under the water and did not resurface.
“The search, which spanned a mile-wide area, continued well into the night on Saturday and resumed at first light on Sunday. Despite challenging conditions, including murky water, the teams worked tirelessly to locate Mittendorf. His body was recovered this morning in the southeast corner of the bay, in an area known as Freeway Bay.”
Park rangers stressed the importance of water safety. “As the recreation season continues, we urge all outdoor recreators to prioritize safety. Always recreate with a buddy, wear a life jacket, and remain aware of weather conditions. Ensure someone knows your location and expected return time.”