Young Lovell man dies in Bighorn Lake

Posted 6/22/21

A 19-year-old Lovell man drowned in Bighorn Lake on Friday afternoon. 

Dominic Hunder had been swimming with friends near Barry’s Landing in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area when …

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Young Lovell man dies in Bighorn Lake

Posted

A 19-year-old Lovell man drowned in Bighorn Lake on Friday afternoon. 

Dominic Hunder had been swimming with friends near Barry’s Landing in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area when he became fatigued and slipped underneath the water, the National Park Service said in a news release. Hunder was unable to be rescued and did not resurface.

“We are saddened by this unfortunate event,”  said Raymond McPadden, Bighorn Canyon’s acting superintendent. “Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of the victim.”

The incident was reported to authorities around 4:25 p.m. Friday. Friends, family, park rangers and personnel from Lovell Fire Department, ambulance crew, Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office and Big Horn County Search and Rescue searched the area until 1 a.m. Saturday morning, but found no sign of Hunder. They resumed the search later that morning, joined by the Carbon County, Montana, Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Water Rescue Dive Team, with divers finding his body around 2:30 p.m.

Describing a “round the clock” effort, McPadden commended the multi-agency search and rescue team “for their hard work and perseverance.”

The Park Service said it “strongly recommends” that visitors wear life jackets when recreating in Bighorn Canyon, noting that swimming and boating conditions can be hazardous. Visitors are required to have a properly fitted life jacket on board for all occupants of vessels — including canoes, kayaks, rafts and paddleboards.

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