National Park Service announced on Friday that the victim of a rafting accident during a private permitted trip on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument has been identified as 54-year-old fire Captain Michael Harp of Sandy, Utah. NPS reported that around 4:00 pm on Thursday, June 27th, monument staff were notified that a boat was pinned on a rock in the rapid named Hell’s Half Mile. One person from the group was missing and suspected to be pinned under the raft. The group was eventually able to unpin and secure the boat, but Harp, now dislodged, unresponsive, and having lost his lifejacket, drifted downriver. River Patrol Rangers were informed and initiated travel through the Canyon of Lodore by raft to intercept the group. Additional support traveled by car using the Echo Park Road. At 7:45am on Friday, June 28th, monument staff received information from Adrift, a commercial rafting company, that the victim’s body had been found by guides approximately 10 river miles downstream from the location of the accident. Control of the scene was shortly turned over to River Rangers on a Resource Science and Stewardship trip. With the assistance of the Vernal-based Classic Air Medical helicopter crew, the victim’s body was transported to the Moffat County coroner. The Salt Lake City Fire Department shared the following tribute on Saturday: “It is with heavy hearts that Salt Lake City Fire Department share the unexpected passing of Captain Michael Harp…Captain Harp was a 27-year veteran of Salt Lake City Fire Department. He was a second generation firefighter, following the footsteps of his father who also served with Salt Lake City Fire Department. Captain Harp was also a dedicated member of Utah Task Force 1 and notably deployed to Ground Zero on 9/11. Captain Michael Harp dedicated his life to the service of not only the citizens of Salt Lake City, but also his fellow firefighters. His legacy of service, leadership, compassion, and contagious laughter will forever be remembered by all who knew him.”
