Two survive near-drowning in the Green

Two men survived near-drowning in the Green River last Sunday.

Zacariah Smith, Vernal, and Dayne Jacobsen, Jensen, both 19, were swimming in the Green River near the Split Mountain Campground. Suddenly, a current pulled them under the water and swept them downstream, according to the Uintah County Sheriff's Office.

Other people swimming in the river called 911 to report that the two men had drowned. Five agencies responded to the call, including the sheriff's office, Dinosaur National Monument National Park Service, Gold Cross Ambulance, Jensen Fire Department and Uintah County Search and Rescue.

But when they arrived a few minutes later, they did not find a tragic case of two drowned swimmers. The two men were safely sitting or lying down on an island in the middle of the river.

The search and rescue team brought them back in a lifeboat. Smith, who was completely exhausted from fighting the current, was transported to Ashley Regional Medical Center in Vernalfor treatment.

The last drowning or near-drowning call the sheriff's office received was five years ago, said Lt. John Laursen.

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