Identity of Kayaker found dead in Summit County released

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — The Kayaker who passed away at Echo State Park has been identified by family.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23 at around 5:30 p.m., the Summit County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing man who had been kayaking on Echo Reservoir. The man, identified by family as Steven Marc Gines, 56, was last seen on the water around 4:30 p.m. on September 23.

Officials say search and rescue teams from the Sheriff’s Office were immediately deployed and began search efforts with assistance from the Department of Natural Resources law enforcement and Wasatch County Search and Rescue.

Crews used various sonar technologies to search the reservoir. The operation continued into the early morning hours on Wednesday.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the body of the missing man was located and recovered from the reservoir.

This incident remains under an active investigation at this time. The Utah Office of the Medical Examiner will ultimately determine the official cause and manner of death.

Wasatch County Search and Rescue, the Department of Natural Resources law enforcement, North Summit Fire District assisted in the search and recovery effort.