Two boaters found in Great Salt Lake after extensive search

MAGNA — Two men were retrieved from Great Salt Lake late Saturday night after an extensive search and rescue effort.

According to Lt. Justin Hoyal with Unified Police Department, a helicopter spotted the two men floating in the water just after 11:00 p.m. Saturday night.  Hoyal said he was unable to confirm their condition, but the men are likely dead.

The three men went hunting on the Great Salt Lake around 1:00 p.m. Saturday in a flat-bottomed boat. When the men went to return to the Great Salt Lake Marina a storm hit and caused the boat to take on water and capsized.

"They stayed with the boat, treaded water with it for a short little while, until one of the individuals, a 24-year-old male who is here with us, told the other two to stay with the boat, he was going to go get help," Hoyal said.

The 24-year-old male was located by state parks personnel around 5:50 p.m. and was treated at the scene.

The capsized boat was located around 9:00 p.m. 

The two men were not found near the boat and they were about a half-mile away from each other.

The identities of the men have not been released.

Twitter: @FinleyJY