Teen falls into the Provo River at Riverside Park, rescued by a passerby and firefighters
Jun 11, 2024, 5:02 PM | Updated: 5:59 pm
Provo police said a 13-year-old boy fell into the Provo River at Riverside Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Sandy Mayor Michelle Kaufusi on X)
(Sandy Mayor Michelle Kaufusi on X)
PROVO, Utah — Provo police said a 13-year-old boy fell into the Provo River at Riverside Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Provo police’s 👇 Janna Lee-Holland joined KSL NewsRadio with the latest update.
The teen was reportedly found and removed from the water between Riverside and Alligator Parks.
Police confirm the teen had special needs. According to Provo police’s Janna-Lee Holland, he wandered into the river and his parents were unable to get him out.
They called emergency services and police and fire responded. While they were assembling, a passerby jumped in the river and held onto the young man until firefighters could pull him out with a rope system.
By about 4:30 p.m., the child was out of the water and was doing okay.
“We’re just absolutely relieved that it was a successful outcome for both of them,” Holland said.
The third case this week
This was the third person who fell into Utah’s fast-running rivers in the past few days.
Joint Agency Advisory on River Safety:
– Stay at least 40 feet away from riverbanks.
– Wear life jackets when recreating on or near the river. (A requirement within unincorporated areas of Utah County.)
– Obey any closures or advisories posted at trails and parks.
– Know where… pic.twitter.com/DyEO0ZLLgJ— Provo City (@provocity) June 11, 2024
“We just really want to get the message out there that the rivers are fast, they’re cold, they’re a lot deeper than they usually are … Unfortunately we don’t have much success with rescues. It’s usually a retrieval mission, not a saving mission,” Holland said.
Related reading:
- Horsetail Falls missing hiker found dead
- 12 -year-old boy rescued from Provo River dies
- City of Provo prepares for high flows at the Provo River
