Deng Mayar dies after drowning in Utah reservoir
- Deng Mayar, a 22-year-old basketball player, drowned in Blackridge Reservoir, Utah, while swimming with a friend.
- Sa Mafutaga struggled but managed to reach shore and attempted to aid Mayar, requiring medical assistance himself.
- Emergency teams conducted an extensive search for hours before recovering Mayar's body, leading to mourning from his community.
On August 18, 2025, in Herriman, Utah, a tragic drowning incident occurred that claimed the life of 22-year-old Deng Mayar, a college basketball player. Mayar, who recently transferred to the University of Nebraska at Omaha from North Dakota, was swimming at Blackridge Reservoir with his friend Sa Mafutaga when both began to struggle in the water. Reports indicate that Mayar went underwater about 35 yards from the shore, leading to a call for emergency assistance around 5:40 p.m. that day. When emergency responders arrived, they learned that Sa Mafutaga had managed to reach the shore and attempted to rescue Mayar by reentering the water. However, he was unable to reach his friend and required assistance himself, ultimately being treated at the scene and transported to a local hospital where he was expected to recover. Rescue efforts continued for several hours as teams from Unified Fire Authority, South Jordan Fire Department, and the Utah Highway Patrol searched the area. The search included the use of a submersible robot, which conducted an extensive search of the reservoir. Amidst growing concern from bystanders, the search teams located Mayar's body at 10:40 p.m. that evening, approximately five hours after he had gone underwater. Divers recovered his body shortly thereafter, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The tragic loss of Deng Mayar shocked the basketball community and led to an outpouring of grief from coaches and teammates across the teams he played for. Chris Crutchfield, the head coach at Omaha, expressed the devastation felt by the program, stating that Mayar had made significant progress and was a valuable member of the team. Similarly, Mayar's former coach at North Dakota, Paul Sather, conveyed deep sorrow, highlighting how Mayar's kind nature and competitive spirit had touched many lives. Mayar is survived by his parents and six siblings, leaving behind a legacy of a promising basketball career that was tragically cut short due to this incident.