Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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Sandra Yi, Marc Giauque and Chris Kaye ReportingLt. Chris Bertram: "The temperature of the river, the swiftness of the river, and just the overall power of the river right now, is not a place for people to be playing around."
As the Memorial Day weekend approaches, authorities are warning people to stay away from fast-moving water. They're reinforcing their message after a Bountiful teenager drowned this weekend in Big Cottonwood Creek.
Authorities emphasize, the river is at its peak runoff this week. The water is high and moving fast. Up Big Cottonwood Canyon, a group of friends witnessed its power first-hand.
Police say the raging water is nothing to be messed with.
Lt. Chris Bertram, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "If you fall into this river, chances are you are not going to come out of this river."
Jeremy Davis: "That river is death. You can't even go into it."
It took the life of 15-year old Nikki Bernhisel, an honor roll student and cheerleader from Bountiful. Bountiful High School students are coping with the drowning of sophomore classmate Nikki Bernhisel in Big Cottonwood Creek Sunday. Davis County School District Community Relations Director Christ Williams says they are trying to keep the day as normal as possible. "I think the students are doing the best they can. Of course they're subdued. Students aren't feeling wonderful about things today, but they're going to class and trying to learn as much as they can today, and carry on," says Williams. Tearrani Wervett, Nikki's Aunt: "She was very high spirited. She always laughed. She always made everybody laugh."
On Saturday, Bernhisel and her friends gathered to go rock climbing in an area called "The Slips", near Storm Mountain. To get there they had to cross Cottonwood Creek using ropes. Friends say Bernhisel made it halfway, got nervous, and then her feet slipped underneath her. Two of her friends tried to rescue her.
Jeremy Davis, Tried to Save Friend: "I just dove in after her and grabbed a hold of her, and I held a stick with one hand, her with the other for a while. And I was yelling to my friends to come help. My friend came in like knee deep, and he couldn't do anything, couldn't even get close to us."
Search teams found Bernhisel's body early Sunday morning. Family members are grateful to those who risked their lives to find her.
Tearrani Wervett: "They said they weren't going to give up. They weren't going to go home without her."
Family members say Bernhisel was a good swimmer who always played it safe around water. But for this young lifeguard, the raging waters of this creek were too much for her.
Tearrani Wervett: "Water is still very powerful. Just because you know how to swim, you shouldn't be messing with water like that."
Bernhisel lived with her grandparents.
If you'd like to help the family with expenses, donations can be made in Nikki's name at any Utah First Credit Union or at the front office of Bountiful High School. Kevin Barjenbrook of the National Weather Service says flows could remain strong and cold for the next several weeks. There's a flood warning in effect through tomorrow on the Logan River, though officials say there's no major concern right now.
