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Mother’s Day horror as sisters, aged 3 and 7, are swept to their deaths in flash floods in Utah canyon
TWO young sisters on a Mother's Day camping trip were swept to their deaths by flash floods on a canyon hiking trail in Utah.
Police said the girls aged three and seven were tumbled for miles through the valley "like a washing machine" as a thunderstorm turned the dry desert into a raging torrent.
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The sisters were hiking with their mother and uncle when the flood suddenly filled the slot canyon on Monday.
It washed the family three miles through the narrow rock formations in Little Wildhorse Canyon in southern .
“It would be like putting them through a washing machine,” said Emery County Sheriff Greg Funk.
The girls' father saw water gushing from the mouth of the canyon and found the seven-year-old lifeless.
He tried to give CPR but could not revive her, .
Eighty people joined the search for three-year-old after a piece of her clothing was found seven miles downstream.
Her body was spotted by a helicopter on Tuesday nearly 30 miles away on the bank of the Muddy Creek wash near Hanksville.
At least 21 other hikers who were trapped by the canyon flood made it out safely, sheriffs said.
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The slot canyon trails - popular for their colorful rock formations - are so narrow in places hikers have to turn sideways to squeeze through.
Survivors told how the canyon sides became waterfalls after the freak storm dumped inches of rain and nickel-sized hailstones.
Some posted pictures and videos on Facebook showing the water rushing from higher ground into the gulch.
One said: “My first slot canyon adventure was a full immersion in what park rangers are calling ‘the flash flood of the decade’.
“We were forced to take shelter and seek higher ground due to a strong storm that unexpectedly moved into the area.
“We were pinned there just above narrow slots in awe and fear as the bone dry creek bed quickly rose with swiftly moving muddy water.
“The canyon walls became waterfalls, large hailstones accumulated and rocks were crashing down.
“After nearly an hour and surprisingly long after the rain had stopped, we determined the water level had receded enough to safely scramble through the slots below.”
The names of the dead sisters was not revealed, but friends decorated their West Jordan neighborhood with ribbons placed a sign on the family’s garage saying: “We love you.”
Neighbors said the girls' parents were experienced hikers who loved camping and the outdoors.
Angie White : "Our hearts just shattered for this poor family,
"(The oldest) was usually riding her bike so fast. She would always stop and say hi to us.
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"The three-year-old was just like her big sister and mimicked and parroted everything she said.
"They were absolute delights."
Utah Governor Gary Herbert said last night: “Jeanette and I extend our deepest sympathies to the family who lost their two daughters in yesterday’s flash flood.
“Utah mourns with the family and prays that they may be comforted in this heartbreaking time.”
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