Name Release: Teen Dead After Incident at Deer Creek State Park

June 18, 2021

DEER CREEK STATE PARK — A Salt Lake County teen is dead following an incident at Deer Creek State Park Thursday afternoon. 

On June 17, at around 4:45 p.m., Utah State Parks Rangers responded to the Island Beach day-use area of Deer Creek State Park after receiving a call of a possible drowning. 

Upon arrival, rangers learned that 17-year-old Fernando Botello Arredondo had been visiting the park with members of his family. He had been out playing in the water when family members said he suddenly went under the water and did not resurface. The water in the area he was playing in was approximately 4-8 feet deep. 

He was not believed to have been using inflatable water toys or wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. 

First responders — including Utah State Parks Rangers and Wasatch County Search and Rescue — assisted in the search for Fernando. At about 7:30 p.m., the search team located and recovered Fernando’s body from the water. He was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The Utah Division of Parks and Recreation extends our condolences to Fernando’s friends and family. This incident remains under investigation at this time.