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SOUTH JORDAN — A South Jordan elementary school teacher and her 11-year-old daughter drowned in Bear Lake while saving a relative who was struggling in the water.
Jennifer Lambourne, 37, and her daughter, Brooklyn Mae Lambourne, 11, died Wednesday during a family outing after going under the water in the Fish Haven area of the lake on the Idaho side of the border. According to a GoFundMe site set up for the family, husband Josh Lambourne survived along with the couple's 10-year-old son, Boston Lambourne.
"Tragedy hit our family hard yesterday, something I pray no one ever has to witness or ever go through. We lost my beautiful, loving, caring sister Jenny Nelson Lambourne and my sweet, sweet niece Brooklyn Lambourne in a horrible accident at Bear Lake," Kelly Nelson McNeil wrote on Facebook.
"I loved my sister and niece more than words can even describe. Jenny was a first-grade teacher and loved by all who knew her. I know she touched many, many lives. Brooklyn was about to enter sixth grade and was the kindest most helpful kid out there."
Brooklyn and an 8-year-old female cousin were on an inflated water toy when "a sudden storm generated strong winds which pushed the girls away from shore and further onto the lake," according to a statement from the Bear Lake County Sheriff's Office in Idaho. Jennifer Lambourne and other family members went into the water to help.
"At some point the 8-year-old fell off the inflatable and into the water. When this child was struggling in the water, Brooklyn jumped into the water to help her cousin stay afloat," according to the sheriff's office. "At some point Brooklyn went under the water and did not surface."
Jennifer Lambourne was able to reach the 8-year-old girl and "worked to keep her afloat," but eventually she went under the water, the sheriff's office stated.
Others helped get Lambourne and the 8-year-old the rest of the way to the shore. They were taken to Bear Lake Memorial Hospital where Jennifer died. The 8-year-old was treated at the hospital and later released. Brooklyn's body was recovered from the lake about 7 p.m. by searchers from Idaho and Utah.
The Lambournes live in the Daybreak area. Jennifer Lambourne taught at Eastlake Elementary. Brooklyn would have started sixth grade at the school in a couple of weeks.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jennifer Lambourne, who was a beloved teacher, friend and member of the Jordan School District family," a statement from the Jordan School District says. "Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time."
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