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WILLARD BAY STATE PARK — A Utah teacher drowned while paddleboarding in Willard Bay Sunday, officials said.
Perry resident and Weber School District teacher Brandon Larsen, 46, went missing Sunday after he went paddleboarding at the reservoir, according to Willard Bay State Park manager James Morgan. His body was recovered Wednesday after days of searching.
Park staff found a chair, sandals, beach towel and car keys left on the beach Sunday evening but assumed someone had forgotten them and took the items to the lost-and-found, Morgan said. On Tuesday, officials were made aware that a car had been sitting in the parking lot for several days and confirmed that the keys they'd found matched the car in the lot.
Officials identified Larsen as the owner of the vehicle and began trying to locate his family. They eventually discovered that Larsen had been missing since Sunday night — the same evening a wind storm swept over Willard Bay.
Crews began searching for Larsen Tuesday and located his cellphone in a dry bag floating in the water. His body was found nearby just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, Morgan said.
Search crews have not yet found the paddleboard and are asking for the public's help to locate the lime green-and-white Dave Scadden Paddlesports inflatable Grand Slam model. Those who may have seen Larsen or the paddleboard can contact Utah State Parks.
Officials are investigating Larsen's death as a drowning because he was paddleboarding and wasn't wearing a life jacket at the time, Morgan said. They believe the storm Sunday evening may have been a contributing factor in his death.
"Brandon was a father, brother, son, uncle, veteran and teacher. The loss of him from our lives is indescribable," Larsen's family said in an emailed statement.
The Weber School District also posted a tribute to Larsen on its Facebook page, mourning the loss of the business and computer programming teacher. Larsen had been with the school district for 11 years and taught at Sand Ridge Junior High School and Weber Innovation High School.
"Brandon was beloved by students and highly respected by his peers," the school said. "Our condolences go out to his friends, family and loved ones."
