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IVINS, Washington County — Even now, Brad Barton still can't believe what happened to his brother in-law, his friend, Matthew Lewis.
"Matt was a great man. Everybody loved him," Barton said.
The two were out paragliding in a remote area in Arizona this past weekend just a few miles south of St. George when something happened during one of Lewis's flights. Barton saw him crash.
"The only thing I could do is go down that hill and start trying to save him," Barton said. He called for help and tried CPR for more than an hour, but Lewis' injuries were too much. He died.
"The family is doing as good as we can do," Barton said.
Lewis, 33 years old and from Ivins, Utah, leaves behind his wife, Crystal, three step-children, and his daughter, Victoria. She was born just 3 weeks ago, and meant everything to him. In fact, Lewis' family says he treated all of them like his own.
"He loved everybody. He loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends, but most importantly, he loved his wife and his kids and especially his newborn little girl," Barton said.
Now, his family is planning a funeral for a life cut way too short, but lived to the fullest.
"He loved to have fun, and we did have good times," Barton said.
