Utah dad drowns at state park trying to save son who jumped into water to rescue woman

A 38-year-old man died while trying to save his son from drowning at Utah's Willard Bay State Park.

Andre Leon Debose, 38, from Layton, Utah, was swimming and boating with his 17-year-old son at Willard Bay State Park around 4:20 p.m. Saturday when the weather turned stormy, the Utah Division of State Parks said in a news release Sunday.

A 19-year-old woman who was swimming began to struggle in the water, prompting the teenager to jump in to help.

"The woman was wearing a life jacket and was able to be brought back aboard the boat safely," the news release said.

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Debose jumped when he saw his son struggling in the water

However, Debose's son began to struggle in the water before he could reboard. Upon seeing his son in distress, Debose jumped from the boat to help his son, according to witnesses present on the scene. The two only had one life jacket between them and were holding onto that while in the water.

"It was then that Debose went under the water and did not resurface," the news release said.

His son, meanwhile, was able to make it back to the boat. Medical responders evaluated Debose's son on scene and cleared him.

Search and rescue teams with multiple agencies, including the Utah State Parks, immediately responded to the incident, launching a search operation to look for Debose. His body was recovered from the water around 11:15 p.m. that night, authorities said.

"The Utah Division of State Parks extends our deepest condolences to Debose’s family and friends during this difficult time," the news release said. "We would also like to express our thanks to the agencies who assisted in the search and recovery efforts."

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Second drowning in a week

Saturday's incident marked the second drowning at Willard Bay State Park within the week, the division said, advising parkgoers to exercise more caution and prioritize safety while recreating outdoors.

"Always recreate with a buddy, wear a life jacket, and remain aware of weather conditions," the news release said. "Ensure someone knows your location and expected return time."

Willard Bay State Park is located on the eastern side of the Great Salt Lake and is about 50 miles north of Salt Lake City.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.