SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – A 4-year-old girl, her mother and a good Samaritan died in Utah after the child fell from a rock and was swept away in a cold, fast-moving river and several people jumped in to help her, authorities said Tuesday.
London DeDios had been playing with her mother on Memorial Day near Bridal Veil Falls when she fell. Her mother, Brenda DeDios, and at least five other people tried to save the girl, Utah County sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said.
The child’s body was found Tuesday about a mile down the Provo River. Brenda DeDios and Sean Zacharey Thayne, 30, were found about three miles (nearly 5 kilometers) downriver, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City. Both died at a hospital.
The deaths came amid warnings from officials around the state urging people to be careful around rivers that are high, fast and icy as warm spring temperatures melt heavy snow that fell in the Utah mountains.
Officials said the river temperature was 45 degrees and it was moving about 4 to 7 mph – a dangerous combination.