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WILLARD, Box Elder County — The body of a 51-year-old Weber County man who went missing in Willard Bay after a swim Saturday has been recovered, according to the Utah Division of State Parks.
The victim, identified as Robert Mittendorf, was swimming with his son near their boat "when a sudden storm swept through the area," separating the two men from the boat, the release said. Mittendorf's son swam back to the boat to get a life jacket for his father, but according to the division, the son couldn't reach him before he went under and did not resurface.
Three family members attempted to rescue Mittendorf but were unsuccessful, calling emergency responders about 9 p.m. Saturday.
Crews faced murky, choppy waters and 6- to 8-foot swells Saturday night, closing the south marina to dedicate more resources to the search effort.
The Willard City Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Division of Outdoor Recreation rangers, Utah Department of Public Safety and the Box Elder and Weber County Search and Rescue teams all worked in a mile-wide area Saturday night and at first light on Sunday, the release said.
But Utah State Parks Sgt. James Morgan on Sunday said the effort was "looking more like a recovery at this point."
Tuesday morning, Mittendorf's body was found by a park ranger in the southeast corner of the bay, an area known as Freeway Bay, the parks department says.
The Mittendorf family issued a statement, saying, "Robert was a loving grandfather, father, brother and friend. He was a hard worker who would have given the shirt off his back for anyone. He was an adventurous spirit and a strong swimmer who grew up on the water and enjoyed all types of water sports."
The family hopes to remind everyone on the water that "no matter how experienced you may be, please wear a life vest."
"His loss is profoundly felt by all who knew and loved him," the family says.
