A medical helicopter evacuation was needed for the rescue operation at Snake Creek Canyon. Photo: Wasatch Search and Rescue

Volunteers spring into action as search and rescue handles back-to-back emergencies on a Monday afternoon

WASATCH COUNTY, Utah — The Wasatch County Search and Rescue (SAR) team responded to three separate emergencies in a matter of hours Monday afternoon, highlighting both the unpredictability of outdoor recreation and the dedication of Utah’s volunteer rescuers.

“It’s just the nature of search and rescue,” said Wasatch SAR Commander Kam Kohler. “You can go a week with nothing. And then Monday afternoon — three in the afternoon, which should be a slow time — all of a sudden: boom, boom, boom. Three calls, back-to-back-to-back.”

Wasatch Search and Rescue respond to call at Snake Creek Canyon. Video courtesy of Wasatch Search and Rescue

Call #1: Kayaker in Distress at Strawberry Reservoir

The first call came in at 3:24 p.m. from a kayaker caught in high winds at Strawberry Reservoir.

Kohler emphasized that wind on Strawberry can be especially dangerous, created large waves that can capsize boats. An emergency call came in from a kayaker who was pushed by the wind and became swamped two miles from shore, unable to make it back to land.

Wasatch SAR teams dispatched with boats and wave runners, but faced a 35-minute response time from their location. In a bid to save time and resources, Kohler contacted a friend at Strawberry Bay Marina.

“I said, ‘Do you have a boat on the water right now?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I can have someone in the boat in two minutes.’ I said, ‘We’ve got a kayaker to the east of you. Can you run out there really quick?’”

The marina crew reached the kayaker quickly and pulled him safely onto a pontoon boat.

“The guy had a life jacket, that’s important,” Kohler said. “The life jacket was his safety net. You never want to be out on Strawberry in bad wind with no life jacket. That’s a recipe for a bad ending.”

The kayaker was cold and tired but uninjured. Though Kohler still sent an ambulance met him at the marina to evaluate for hypothermia.

Call #2: Wakeboarder Stranded at Jordanelle Reservoir

At 4:39 p.m., while SAR teams were still wrapping up the Strawberry call, a second emergency came in from Jordanelle Reservoir. Initial reports claimed a wakeboarder had become entangled in a propeller and couldn’t keep his head above water.

“We’re thinking, ‘This is bad,’” said Kohler.

But the situation turned out to be less critical than reported. A tow rope had caught in the boat’s propeller, stranding the boat far from the rider. The wakeboarder swam to shore and called for help.

“He said his life jacket was caught on the prop, but it turns out it was actually the rope — not him,” Kohler explained. “It’s not unusual. People are panicked. The info we get from dispatch is often different from what we find when we get on scene.”

SAR teams recovered the wakeboarder and the boat and reunited them safely.

Call #3: UTV Accident in Snake Creek Canyon

At 4:30 p.m. — nine minutes before the Jordanelle call — a third emergency was reported: a side-by-side UTV rollover in the Snake Creek area, just over the ridge into American Fork Canyon.

The incident involved two men in their 50s whose vehicle rolled an estimated 300 yards down a steep canyon. One of the men managed to climb to the road and flag down a passerby on an ATV for help.

“Initially, [the report] came in as one injured person who was already up on the road,” said Kohler. “But when we got there, it was much worse.”

Both men had suffered injuries on the roll down the hill, and due to the terrain and severity of injuries, both men required helicopter evacuation. The man who climbed back to the road was airlifted by AirMed from a nearby landing zone. The second, who remained deep in the canyon, had to be extracted by a Life Flight hoist helicopter.

SAR teams from both Wasatch and Utah Counties assisted, along with Wasatch Fire.

“Big thanks to Life Flight and AirMed for some amazing extraction work,” Kohler said.

Volunteer Power and Outdoor Safety

With 35 volunteer members on the team, Wasatch SAR relies on whoever is available when an emergency arises.

“All of these guys have real jobs,” Kohler said. “When the pager goes off, it’s whoever can come. On a typical call, I get about a dozen guys who drop what they’re doing to help however they can. It’s an amazing team.”

With more than two decades of experience with search and rescue, Kohler said he’s still inspired by that commitment. “After 27 years in search and rescue, I’m still amazed that, at the drop of a hat, in the middle of the day, so many volunteers are motivated to help someone in need.”

He also emphasized two key safety reminders for anyone venturing outdoors.

“Never assume you’re going to be okay without a life jacket, just wear it. Conditions can change so fast. And if you’re going out in the backcountry — whether on a side-by-side, ATV, or even a mountain bike — take someone with you. The buddy system can save your life.”