(ST. GEORGE, Utah – September 24, 2010) – Dixie State College of Utah student Oscar Irvin Juvera died Friday evening at Dixie Regional Medical Center following a swimming accident at Sand Hollow Reservoir.
Juvera, a 20-year-old sophomore from Prescott Valley, Ariz., was one of 18 students who were attending a kayaking activity sponsored by the DSC Multicultural/Diversity Center (MCDC). Juvera was part of the first group of students to take their turn on the kayaks and had returned to the shore. A short time later, Juvera and a female student decided to swim from the beach to an island on the reservoir.
At around 5:45 p.m., while swimming out to the island, Juvera began experiencing problems in the water and the female student swam over to provide assistance. When she arrived, she was pulled down into the water by Juvera, but she was able to break free and scream for assistance.
Luke Wilkins, DSC coordinator of outdoor recreation, immediately paddled over to the area and dove into the water to find Juvera. After failing in his first attempt, Wilkins reached the bottom, found Juvera, and brought him back up to the surface and into a waiting Lake Patrol boat which had come to aid in the rescue.
Once in the Patrol boat, Wilkins immediately began CPR on Juvera as the boat traveled to the dock area. Juvera was then transported by ambulance to Dixie Regional, where he was pronounced dead at around 8:45 p.m.
Meanwhile the female student who accompanied Juvera on the swim was transported back to shore by kayak.
“On behalf of Dixie State College, we want to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Oscar Juvera,” said DSC President Dr. Stephen D. Nadauld in a statement. “Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and as a campus family, we join them in mourning his loss at this time.”
Dixie State officials provided grief counseling to the rest of the students upon their arrival back to campus Friday evening. DSC Vice President of Student Services Frank B. Lojko and Dean of Students Del Beatty also met with some of the students and expressed their condolences.Dixie State College Student Dies in Swimming Accident