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MOAB — A Moab man drowned in the Colorado River after trying to bring a 5-year-old relative back to shore during a family outing Wednesday morning, authorities said.
Emergency crews responded to a report of a man drowning in an area known as Nude Beach about seven miles north of Moab shortly after 10:30 a.m., according to Grand County Sheriff’s Lt. Kim Neal.
He said the child was in the river and was using floating devices but had drifted too far from shore and James Greggorie, 70, swam out to bring the child back to shore.
However, Greggorie slipped beneath the water surface.
“Mr. Greggorie yelled he was having cramps and went underwater and did not surface,” Neal said. “The child made it back to shore safely.”
Several agencies responded to drowning report and Greggorie’s body was located in the water in an area about 10 feet deep near where he went under.
His body was pulled from the river just before noon. It will be taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Salt Lake City for an autopsy, authorities added.
