Bear Lake has claimed two lives in two weekends — both on the Utah side of the popular summer destination.
The latest fatality occurred Saturday near Cisco Beach on the east side of Bear Lake, north of Laketown, Utah.
A 56-year-old man from West Valley City, Utah, died during a diving accident, according to the Rich County Sheriff’s Office. He was identified as Greg Jonas.
“The Rich County Sheriff’s Office is saddened to report that the diver, Greg Jonas, of West Valley City, Utah, has died as a result of this incident,” the Sheriff’s Office posted on social media. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic loss.”
The Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about the incident at 1:44 p.m. Saturday. Officers from the Utah Department of Natural Resources along with Rich County sheriff’s personnel, Rich County emergency units and Intermountain Flight all responded. Jonas was flown by air ambulance to Logan Regional Hospital in Logan, Utah, where he was pronounced dead.
According to officials, Jonas was diving with others in water estimated to be 90 to 100 feet deep. He was completing his final deep dive as part of a master diver certification when the accident occurred, authorities said.
The previous weekend, a death occurred on the western side of Bear Lake near Ideal Beach, just south of Garden City, Utah. A 17-year-old boy from Arizona drowned after falling off a paddleboard on Saturday, June 6. Utah DNR officers were dispatched to Ideal Beach around 3:30 p.m. in response to reports of a drowning.
Authorities said the victim, Gideon Rowles, fell from the paddleboard and became separated from it. He was not wearing an ankle strap or a life jacket.
DNR officials said 25-mph winds at the time may have been a factor in Rowles’ death.
Rescue workers located the teenager and attempted life-saving measures but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
DNR officers were assisted during the incident by Garden City EMS, the Rich County Sheriff’s Office, Rich County Search and Rescue, and Bear Lake County, Idaho, emergency units.



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