35-year-old found dead after jumping from 60-foot cliff with friends, Utah police say

A 35-year-old man jumped from a 60-foot cliff while boating with friends and never resurfaced, Utah officials told news outlets.

The man was cliff jumping at Flaming Gorge Reservoir on Saturday, Sept. 10, when he vanished underwater, the Daggett County Sheriff told ABC 4. He was reported missing at about 3:30 p.m.

A dive team rushed to help look for the man and arrived at about 4:40 p.m. They scoured the reservoir, searching in areas up to 100 feet deep, officials told KUTV.

After hours of searching, the man’s body was found 153 feet underwater using a remotely operated vehicle, officials told KUTV. Sheriff Erik Bailey told KSL the man may have drowned.

Officials did not disclose the man’s identity. A medical examiner will determine an official cause of death, according to KSL.

The man was cliff jumping near Horseshoe Canyon in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, an area where it is illegal to cliff jump, according to ABC 4.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir is a popular Utah attraction, according to the state’s tourism office. It encompasses more than 42,000 acres and is a popular destination for boating, fishing, skiing and other water sports.

This story was originally published September 12, 2022 at 3:09 PM with the headline "35-year-old found dead after jumping from 60-foot cliff with friends, Utah police say."