GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, Utah, Aug. 6, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Officials have identified a Cedar City man who drowned at Lake Powell after diving to try and retrieve a boat anchor and becoming entangled in the rope.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area officials said the deceased is Mark Joseph Messer, 47.
A news release from the National Park Service said the incident occurred July 25. At 11:24 a.m., dispatch received a call of a possible drowning in the Warm Creek Canyon area of Lake Powell.
National Park Service rangers responding from Wahweap Marina arrived on the scene at 11:36 a.m. and located the person who had made the call.
Witnesses relayed that the victim, later identified as Messer, was attempting to retrieve a boat anchor in 10 feet of water approximately 30 feet from the shore.
Family members dove into the water in attempts to rescue Messer, who was not wearing a life jacket, but were unsuccessful.
During the initial response, National Park Service rangers retrieved the anchor line and found the victim entangled. He was transported to the Coconino County coroner for an autopsy, as part of the investigation.
Messer was married and had four daughters, according to his obituary.
