The body of a missing kayaker was recovered from Echo Reservoir early Wednesday morning after an hours-long overnight search.
The kayaker, identified as 56-year-old Steven Marc Gines from Salt Lake County, was originally reported missing by his adult son around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, about an hour after he was last seen, according to a press release from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office and Summit County Search and Rescue immediately responded to Echo Reservoir to search for the man, with assistance from the Utah Department of Natural Resources and Wasatch County Search and Rescue.
Crews had found the man’s empty kayak by 7 p.m. on Tuesday and continued to use sonar technology to comb the water for the next six hours.
The man’s body was found and recovered around 1:30 a.m.
The investigation into the kayaker’s death is ongoing, and the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner is working on determining his official cause and manner of death.
“The Summit County Sheriff’s Office extends our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victim and to all those affected by this tragic incident,” the department said. “We also extend our thanks to Wasatch County Search and Rescue, the Department of Natural Resources law enforcement, North Summit Fire District and all other partner agencies who assisted in the search and recovery effort.”