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Amanda Butterfield Reporting Jan Callahan is an excellent swimmer. In fact, she worked with the swim team at BYU. But she may have met her match in a raging river in Hawaii.
Jo-Ann Callahan, Mother: "So she jumped in the water, swam out a little ways, gave them a big thumbs up. Everything was fine. She headed back to shore and was just taken under."
The Farmington native moved to Hawaii just a week ago, where she had accepted a job as trainer at a local high school. Yesterday was supposed to be her first day on the job, but she never made it. Now searchers are trying to find her body.
Jan Callahan loved working with athletes, and was excited about the move to Hawaii. But on Sunday, a swim at a popular river proved too much for the 29-year-old. Now her family is hoping her body is found soon.
There's been a lot of hugging, tears, and even laughter as Jan Callahan's family remembers her.
Jo-Ann Callahan, Mother: "She was an unbelievably remarkable child from day one."
Jan graduated from Weber State University, where she was also a trainer for the football team. She then went on to Brigham Young University, where she got her Masters degree.
Her next step was Hawaii, where she was going to start her career as a full time trainer.
Her family says she made friends quickly, and within days of moving there went with a group to the Wailuku River for a swim.
Jo-Ann Callahan, Mother: "She was an excellent swimmer."
Jan dove in, no problem. But as she was swimming back to shore, she was taken under.
Jo-Ann Callahan, Mother: "And that was the last anyone saw of her."
The locals call it the "River of Death" because of its swift currents and underwater caves.
A local newspaper states at least nine people have died in the Wailuku River since the late '80's. Jan makes 10.
Kent Callahan, Father: "The police in Hawaii contacted the police department here in Farmington, so we had an officer come to our home."
A helicopter has been used in the search, and on Monday divers were sent in, but so far have found nothing.
Kent M. Callahan, Father: "The water is high, and they're hoping in a couple of days the water will recede."
And now all the Callahans can hope for is that finding Jan's body will bring closure. They also want to give her a proper service at home.
Jo-Ann Callahan, Mother: "Until this happened to us, I had no idea how important it was to find a body."
Jan's brother and brother-in-law are in Hawaii right now taking care of Jan's things. They hope her body will be found within the week so they can bring her home with them.
