29-year-old drowns at popular hot springs after going under for minutes, Utah cops say
A man drowned in a hot spring in Utah over the weekend, officials said.
Christopher Lunt, a 29-year-old South Salt Lake resident, was under water “for a number of minutes” at the Meadow Hot Springs on Saturday, Jan. 28, according to a Millard County Sheriff’s Office news release shared with Utah media outlets. Others at the natural spring who saw him in the water tried to save his life, but they were unsuccessful, according to the release.
Officials took him to the hospital, where medical professionals continued lifesaving efforts that ultimately failed, the release said.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital. It appears to have been an accidental drowning, officials with the sheriff’s office and the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office said in the release.
Lunt was engaged to Hayley Pendleton, who says they were going to marry in May. He was also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pendleton said.
“I do want to say that I love Chris with my whole heart,” she said in a message on Facebook. “He is the most selfless person I have ever known…. He always put others before him. His family and friends meant everything to him.”
Lunt loved traveling and technology, and he also loved scuba diving and camping, she said.
Meadow Hot Springs is about 130 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The three warm pools are on private property, and the property owner lets visitors soak and dive in the springs, according to utah.com.
The pools are deep, with crystal clear water that’s about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the website says.
This story was originally published January 30, 2023 at 2:54 PM with the headline "29-year-old drowns at popular hot springs after going under for minutes, Utah cops say."
