Missing teen’s body found in Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area

Jun 26, 2023, 6:00 AM | Updated: Jul 12, 2023, 12:33 pm

One teen remains missing after going underwater in the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area on June 25, 2023. (KSL-TV)

(KSL-TV)

KSL NewsRadio Staff

HOOPER, Utah — Authorities from the Weber County Sherrif’s office confirmed the body of the missing 17-year-old has been found. The sheriff’s office said the group of teens involved had gone into a restricted area, bypassing a locked gate to the Hooper Dam.

Around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, the sheriff’s office responded to a drowning at the Hooper Dam.

Police said the 17-year-old was swimming with friends near one of the retention dams and got caught in an undercurrent.

The other boy jumped in to help him but became stuck at the dam and couldn’t get out. The girl was able to crawl out of the water and call 911 at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Two deputies arrived and stripped down of all their gear, then climbed onto the dam where the second boy was barely hanging on with only his head above water, to try not to go through the dam. The deputies were able to pull him out to safety and rescue him just in time.

“There was no rafts they had no flotation devices on, they were just out in the water, which is about seven to eight feet deep,” Lt. Colby Ryan with Weber County Sheriff’s Office said. “Unfortunately, the area they were swimming in is right next to retention dam, which when deputies arrived, there was a pretty severe undercurrent where the first teen had gone underwater.”

Rescue divers searched the area with the help of drones and a sonar boat before locating the body around 9:30 last night.

Ryan said the area is restricted right now to the public because of the strong currents.