A Lovell man drowned in Bighorn Canyon north of Lovell while swimming with friends over the weekend, according to the National Park Service.
The body of Dominic Hunder, 19, of Lovell, was found Saturday afternoon after a search of the canyon was conducted by National Park Service personnel, officers from the Big Horn County, Wyoming, and Carbon County, Montana, sheriff’s offices and members of the Big Horn County Search and Rescue and U.S. Water Rescue Dive Team.
The search included vessels, underwater cameras, divers and people walking the shorelines.
The search began Friday after officials received a report that a 19-year-old man was missing from an area near Barry’s Landing in the canyon.
According to reports, Hunder was swimming with friends in the Hillsboro area when he became fatigued and slipped beneath the water. He was unable to be rescued and didn’t resurface.
Around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Hunder’s body was found.
“We are saddened by this unfortunate event. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of the victim. I commend the multi-agency search and rescue team for their hard work and perseverance,” said Raymond McPadden, acting superintendent of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
Visitors are encouraged to use life jackets when swimming or boating in the canyon.
