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Sandra Yi reportingKevin Jikie/Victim's Stepfather: "I MISS MY SON OUT THERE. HE'S COLD AND ALONE. I WANT HIM TO COME HOME. I WANT HIS BODY HERE. I DON'T WANT IT LEFT OUT THERE IN THAT COLD LAKE. ALL MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH HIM. WE'RE PRAYING FOR HIM."
What was supposed to be a fun, family weekend at Utah Lake has ended in tragedy.
Early this morning, search crews found the body of an 18 year old, missing since yesterday afternoon.
The body of 18 year old Joshua Merworth was found near the Lindon Marina nearly 24 hours after he went missing.
Now that Joshua's body has been found - the family has closure.
And officers are urging people to be safe while celebrating the holiday.
A family grieves - after searchers this morning find the body of 18 - year old Joshua Merworth - in Utah Lake.
Kevin Jikiu/Victim's Stepfather: "I WISH IT WAS ME INSTEAD OF HIM, BUT I GOT HIM LEFT AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM."
16 - year old Aaron was with his brother - when he disappeared under the water.
The two were on a float tube four to five hundred yards offshore - when a wind storm pushed the tube toward the middle of the lake. Aaron says he held onto the tube while Joshua swam ahead.
Aaron Merworth/Victim's Brother: "I LOOKED BACK OVER AND HE WAS LIKE 20 FEET AHEAD OF ME AND HE WAS YELLING FOR HELP AND HE WENT UNDER AND BY THE TIME I RUSHED TO HIM, AND TRIED DIVING UNDER THE WATER, I COULDN'T FIND HIM."
Aaron Merworth/Victim's Brother: "SOMETHING STOPPED HIM. HE JUST GOT TIRED AND WENT UNDER."
Search and rescue teams started looking for Joshua yesterday. They continued the search effort this morning - using a special device to comb the water's floor. They found Joshua's body before noon about 200 feet from where he was last seen.
Kevin Jikiu/Victim's Stepfather: "HE WAS A GREAT KID. ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS COME OUT HERE AND HAVE FUN FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. IT WAS OUR FIRST FISHING TRIP OF THE YEAR."
The incident this weekend is similar to one last year - when a man fishing in Utah Lake with two others drowned after their boat capsized.
Officers say the tragedies are a reminder that people need to be careful around water, and always wear a life jacket.
Sgt. Dennis Harris/Utah County Sheriff's Office: "IF HE WOULD HAVE HAD A LIFE JACKET AS WELL AS THE KID LAST YEAR, THERE'S NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ALIVE, AND OUR HEARTS REALLY GO OUT TO THESE FAMILIES."