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SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah man who died in a freak rafting accident on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument has been identified as a 27-year veteran of the Salt Lake City Fire Department on Saturday. Michael Harp, 54, was a captain with the Salt Lake Fire Department, which confirmed the loss in a statement Saturday. "Capt. Harp was a 27-year veteran of Salt Lake City Fire Department," the department wrote. "He was a second-generation firefighter, following the footsteps of his father who also served with the Salt Lake City Fire Department." Harp was remembered by his colleagues as a dedicated member of Utah Task Force One, and was "notably deployed to Ground Zero on 9/11." The department said Harp dedicated his life to service. "His legacy of service, leadership, compassion, and contagious laughter will forever be remembered by all who knew him," the department statement added. About 4 p.m. on Thursday, park rangers responded to a report of a rafting accident by Hells Half Mile, a section of Green River rapids by the Canyon of Lodore on the Colorado section of the national monument.
Park rangers said a boat occupied by a group on a private permitted trip was pinned on a rock. Harp was believed to have been pinned under the raft. He was unresponsive and "drifted downriver" after the raft was dislodged from the rock, rangers said.
Officials said Harp had a lifejacket, but lost it by the time the boat was dislodged. River patrol rangers searched for Harp Thursday night. Commercial rafting guides ultimately located him shortly before 8 a.m. Friday, about 10 miles south of where he was thrown into the river. His body was pulled from the river and taken to the Moffat County, Colorado, coroner's office. Park officials noted that section of the river is influenced by releases from Flaming Gorge Dam. Flows have averaged about 4,700 cubic feet per second this week. "Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends, and fellow firefighters during this difficult time," said Salt Lake City Fire, adding that the department will provide updates as more information becomes available. This story is breaking and will be updated as KSL gets new information.
