On a day intended for family hiking, a devastating flash flood in Utah resulted in the deaths of five family members. Law enforcement officials confirmed the tragedy occurred on Friday in the canyons of southern Utah.
Family Tragedy
The victims included a Provo, Utah fire department captain, his wife, and their three sons, according to the authorities. A daughter survived as she was not part of the trip. The family had arrived at Sunglow Campground, located in the picturesque red rock canyon near Bicknell, Utah, for a day excursion.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office stated, “It is believed the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains.”
Although the Sheriff’s Office did not publicly identify the victims, the Provo Fire Department announced via social media that Captain Spencer Long and his family were among those lost. “We are heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family,” stated fire department officials, who later marked their badge with a black bar on social media to honor him.
Rescue and Recovery Efforts
Recovery operations commenced Friday night when deputies located a young male’s body in the flood wash. The remaining family members were discovered late Friday and Saturday. Heavy rain had created perilous conditions in the area for those outdoors, as reported by CBS affiliate KUTV.
Community Response
Tributes and condolences flooded in for the Long family. A GoFundMe page, created by a family friend, was set up to aid the family’s surviving daughter, Lydia. The fundraising page details the loss endured by Lydia: “In an instant, Lydia lost her family and faces an unimaginable future without them.” As of Monday, contributions had exceeded $184,000.
Katrina Long was not only Spencer’s wife but also a cofounder of a medical spa. Summit Medical Spa’s Facebook post expressed profound grief at losing Katrina and her family. Wayne County Sheriff Micah Gulley acknowledged the assistance of multiple agencies in the search, including Sevier County Search and Rescue, the Utah Highway Patrol, and the Utah Department of Public Safety’s helicopter crew.