Lindon • Seven family members on Utah Lake were rescued Saturday after their boat began sinking, thanks to the actions of emergency personnel and a bystander with a drone.
The boat launched from Lindon Marina, but sprung a leak near the inboard/outboard engine while it was between the marina and Saratoga Springs. The occupants were unable to bail out the water fast enough to keep up with the leak.
Around 11 a.m., one of the boaters called a family member on the shore, who then contacted 911. The Utah County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team responded, along with Lindon police, state parks staffers and the Utah Department of Public Safety’s helicopter.
During the search, a bystander asked police if he could fly his drone. They said the man could, and an officer asked if the pilot could use the drone to help them in the search effort. The drone operator eventually spotted the family of seven — three adults, two teenagers and two toddlers — in the water about a mile and a half from the shore. He was able to provide the crews with GPS coordinates and speed up the rescue effort.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said all seven were wearing life jackets. There was one casualty: the drone. Cannon said the operator kept it aloft longer to assist with the rescue, and its battery ran out. It plunged into the water.
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