Skip to content

Monday December 09, 2024 Salt Lake City, UT

TOP STORY

Media Alert

Press Release

Protecting Utah

DPS Helicopter Crew and Sheriffs Accidentally Save Stranded Family of 4

Monday April 3, 2017

During a search and rescue call for a missing kayaker, the Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) helicopter crew and a deputy from Garfield County came across a family of 4 who was stranded along the Escalante River. As the air crew searched the Escalante River for the missing kayaker, they noticed a group on the ground who were in obvious distress. The helicopter team landed and discovered a family who had been stranded for two days.

The family had crashed into boulders during high water after a big storm and lost their boats and paddles. The mom, dad and two teenage daughters were airlifted to the Escalante Airport. The original kayaker safely returned back to his camp on his own.

 

 

Media Event Details

Air crew involved in the rescue will be available for interviews at the DPS helicopter hangar.

WHEN: Monday (TODAY), April 3 at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: DPS helicopter hangar, 135 north 2400 west, Salt Lake City, Utah

WHO: DPS helicopter pilot who spotted the family, Garfield and Kane County Sheriffs are available for phone interviews (contact information will be given at media availability)

###

MEDIA CONTACT

Hillary Koellner
Director of Public Affairs
Department of Public Safety
hmkoellner@utah.gov

SHARE THIS MEDIA ALERT

More Videos in this Series

Motorcyclist Killed on I-80

June 20, 2020

Fatal Crash: San Juan County on SR-191 at Milepost 78

May 11, 2020

Utah’s New Lane Filtering Law

May 8, 2019

More from the News Room

Test

August 2024

Our News Has Moved

July 2024

I-80 Fatal Motorcycle Crash (Updated 6/25/24)

June 2024