You may remember a story we ran last fall about a miraculous rescue that happened on Utah Lake in 2008. Here’s the same event from another viewpoint. This first-hand account of that frightful day’s events was given by Grant Hammon, one of those rescued that day.
It all began on a wonderful summer morning. We started the morning by dropping off our boat for repairs in Salt Lake and then continued on our way to Utah Lake. We were all so excited to be able to start the summer with such a unique outing with some of our best friends! With us were Tyler Peck and Ben Merrill. As soon as we arrived at Utah Lake, we discussed what our plan was for that day. It was decided Steve would take the second wave runner and break the new engine in for preparation for Lake Powell. I remember us laughing and listening to music while we prepared for our adventure that day. I also remember the two wetsuits our mom had us bring but after discussion, we all decided we would only be out for that morning and they were not needed.
We started out on our adventure, Tyler, Ben, and I were on the green wave runner along with the tube, and Steve was on the red one. It started with Tyler, Ben, and I taking turns driving, spotting, or riding on the tube. I remember Steve followed us for some time but then headed off another way on his own. I would look up and see him each time in the distance. Then, one time when I looked up, he was gone. I could not see him anywhere. I told Tyler I couldn’t see my brother and it was probably time to switch jet skis. Tyler agreed and we started our search to find my brother, Steve.
After searching for 15 minutes, we noticed how slow our search had become because of the tube we had to carry with us — very difficult with three people on a jet ski and not a lot of room. We decided that it would be more effective if we were to drop off the tube and rope, then go look for Steve, which we did. It was a long journey in our search for Steve. Our hopes were diminishing. I said a silent prayer in my heart that we would be able to find him. Ten minutes later I remember looking back and forth quickly analyzing the water in search of my brother. I looked to my far right and I remember seeing a vague black spot. As I looked closer, I instantly knew it was my brother! I shouted, “I see him! I see him!” I was so excited we had found him and everything was going to work out.
As we drove towards him, we saw that his wave runner was dead. As soon as we got to him, he told us all that happened to him and how his wave runner had died. After talking it over, we decided the best way to get the jet ski back to the dock, which seemed not too far away, was to use the tow rope in the back of the car, which we used to pull the tube. It was decided Tyler and Ben would go back to get the tow rope while I stayed with my brother. I remember how reluctant I was to jump in the water to swim due to the icy memory of earlier that morning. I fell off the tube and I was greeted by instant numbness and a loss of breath. As soon as I jumped in to swim to the other jet ski, I was greeted by just that: piercing coldness. I swam over as fast as I could after losing my breath. I clung to the side of the jet ski and watched Tyler and Ben drive away into the distance.
Two minutes after Tyler and Ben drove into the distance, the wave runner started to sink and Steve and I decided it would be best to sit on either side of the back of the wave runner for balance.
In the next fifteen minutes, our whole situation would change. There Steve and I were left alone on what felt more like an ocean at this time rather than a lake. My brother was sitting on the seat while I clung to the back end of the wave runner. The water was absolutely freezing! I will never forget the feeling of coldness I had that seemed to seep into every nerve of my body! The temperature was 65 degrees and I was starting to feel the effects even after only twenty minutes in the water.
I remember listening to Steve talk about Tyler and Ben asking, “Where are they?!?!” I also remember telling Steve to calm down and to relax because being mad at them would not solve anything. I told him we had to stay with the jet ski because no one would find us if we swam. I also remember being somewhat jealous and frustrated at Steve for getting to sit on the seat — the dry, warm, snug seat. These thoughts were quickly silenced by the sight and feeling of The Storm. My heart sank and I began to realize how much danger we were actually in.
About this time, my brother said to me in somewhat of a whisper, “Grant, we might not be found…” I looked up into his eyes only to see fear fill them. After that moment my mind sunk just like my heart did; which sunk even further into despair. I sunk into a sort of meditative state.
I was deep in thought about our situation: What options we had and what objects we had at our disposal. Just as I was beginning to get into deep thought, I felt my brother leave the jet ski. I looked up in panic to see my brother swimming away. “Steve!” I shouted. He turned around and looked me dead in the face. He said, “I can’t take this anymore! They are never going to find us! We have no chance here! We have to make a swim for it, Grant!” He said in a panicked voice.
I then said to my brother with as much firmness and confidence as I could muster, “Steve, we will be found, we must stay with the jet ski at all costs. It is our only hope.” The words I said seemed to calm him and he slowly began to make his way back. This is when the storm started to pick up momentum. I then continued my deep search through my mind of all the useful information I had for this situation. I was utterly amazed with how much information came to me: How to build an effective fire — from scouts; how to catch fish or birds out on the sea — Survivor Man; removing your shirts — as long as you keep your center warm, everything will take care of itself. These were not so useful in this situation. As I dug deeper and deeper, I started to find things that would help me immensely later on: Search and Rescue program I watched — always stay with your vessel in order to be seen and flotation. I also remembered watching a Discovery Channel program on heart attacks while I was sick. The show went into details showing the blood circulation. The blood can distribute warmth throughout your body. Again, I remembered, “If you keep your center warm, everything will take care of itself.” That was it! That was what I needed to focus on. My brother and I were wearing Body Armour-type shirts, which with the powerful wind, were deadly! I knew we had to remove them as they felt like a cold wet weight on our bodies. We took off the shirts and threw them into the lake. Another main idea I had was to not panic. Sometimes the biggest danger can be you. I tried to keep my mind active and focused. I kept doing a checklist. I checked with Steve to make sure he was alright.
How would my family take it? It all seemed normal. Everything would be all right with the plan of salvation. Then my thoughts came to my sister and her breaking into tears after being asked, “Where are your brothers?” (We are triplets – two boys and a girl). I began to cry then. A power overcame me. “I can’t die!” Clinging to the jet ski, it rolled almost and I almost drowned. “Never let go! I can’t die.” My trials flashed before my eyes! No! I watch as my sister fell on her knees and began to cry…with no one to comfort her. I wept. It was a pain striking me very deeply.}
As time went on, our hope started diminishing. The waves turned into what felt like tidal waves — 6 feet tall! This made it almost impossible to maintain our balance on the sinking jet ski. The situation was changing faster and faster, becoming more dangerous by the second. Our jet ski would flip multiple times and we would do our best to flip the right side up, not only for flotation, but for the red seats, which could easily be seen from above. During the storm’s increase, my brother and I said four prayers (three small ones and one main one).
In the first prayer, we prayed for our protection and safety. We were a little confused on how and what to pray about. The situation made it difficult, but we managed to have a great spiritual experience while praying. In the second prayer, we prayed for the wind to stop. We thought if the wind would stop, we wouldn’t be as cold, and the waves wouldn’t be as big. These prayers were said within 5-10 minutes of each other. This second prayer was said when all of the wind and waves started picking up. The third prayer we said was a prayer of protection. We prayed our friends would get to us in time and we would be found. Each prayer seemed to bring a small amount of peace and comfort into our situation.
After we had said our last prayer, I had some time to think — actually, a LOT of time to think. I started thinking about my goals and projects in this life that I would probably never get to finish. I thought about school, never getting to complete my education. I wondered what I would have accomplished… Then my thoughts fell upon my family — to my dad and then to my mother. My dad losing his only two sons. How would he take it? My heart sank. Then I thought of my mother – oh, my mother!
I began to cry when the thought, in the sound of a small voice, penetrated my heart and soul “Did you tell your mother you loved her today? These words sunk deep into my heart as I quickly and desperately reviewed my day, my morning. Nope. It wasn’t there. I looked back again and again, but the answer was clear. No, Grant, you had not. At that moment, I silently made a vow to myself that if it was according to the Lord’s will and He were to grant me another day, each time when I was to leave out the door for school or activities or apart from my mother, I would tell her I loved her. “I promise! I promise!” I said to myself in a quiet but determined voice. After my promise, I began to have comfort and peace. I knew that it was up to the Lord now. I knew if it were my time to go then Heavenly Father would take care of my family.
I knew everything would be alright. In my feeling of peace, I continued to ponder on my loving family. I had a neutral feeling towards death. I had accepted it. I knew it would come, there was no reason to fight it… — or so I thought. After dwelling on the thoughts of my family and how my brother’s and my passing would affect them, my thoughts fell upon my sister. Suddenly my feeling of peace and comfort was shattered by a pain striking me very deeply. The thought and image of my sister in tears after finding out she was left alone greatly affected me. I then imagined and saw her at school a few weeks after our deaths talking with one of her friends. She was confronted by a new girl who asked her, “Mary Ann, I can’t believe it! I was told that you were a triplet, so where are the other two?” I saw her as she immediately broke out into tears, falling on her knees, with no one to comfort her. I began to cry. “How could I let this happen?! I must not die! This cannot happen.”
Clinging to the jet ski, another ferocious wave hit us. This time the wave sent my brother and me toppling over the rolling jet ski! After being thrown under water, I could feel myself being pulled to and fro by each powerful wave. Realizing the dire need for breath, I struggled making my way above the water’s surface for air. After gaining a steady breath, I made my way back to the jet ski but to my dismay when I got close to the jet ski, a wave sent it rolling straight towards me. As I tried to stop it, I was quickly sucked under. I was yet again under water. My endurance was running low as my breath escaped me. I couldn’t help but feel I was losing the fight. I thought I would die. My trials began flashing before my eyes — so much I had overcome, so much I had gone through– was it worth it? All I had overcome, just so I could get to this point, this moment? How peacefully could I accept the death that lay before me? I could not. I had too much to live for; so much to fight for! “I must Not Die!!!” I screamed in my head! “God would not allow it!!!” I furiously lifted myself above the water gasping for breath. I tried with every fiber of my being to propel myself closer and closer to the sinking watercraft. As soon as I reached the jet ski, I embraced it and clung to the side. “Hold on brother,” I said, “never let go!” This is one of the moments in my life I will never forget!
It was the moment when I glanced up on to the opposite side of the jet ski to see my brother’s lifeless eyes staring into the waves. God had allowed it; my best friend had left me… This was my heart’s final fall, “I had failed…I had not protected my brother, my friend!” I had a sharp pain in my chest as I felt my fire of hope become extinguished. “Brother!” I pleaded, “Brother!” But nothing changed –nothing mattered anymore. As I sat there clinging to the side of the jet ski, I asked myself the imminent question, “How will you die Grant?” I thought for a long time…what would happen? Would I drown? Would I freeze? How quickly would it all end? The final thought popped in my head-having the agonizing pain of my body going in and out of cramps and painful irritation on my skin throughout my body. The thought came “Just let go…” It could all end sooner, without the jet ski. It would only be a matter of minutes. “No!” I thought stubbornly. “I would not take the easy road out of this life. I must fight till the end and that is when God will take me just like he had my brother. It wouldn’t be long,” I thought. I looked around us to see the mountains all surrounding us. I continued looking until I focused my attention on one really tall mountain directly in front of us. I knew I must not go to sleep! I could not lose consciousness. It was all that I had. If I let it slip for even a moment, I knew that it would be over…
The next event that happened is very hard to explain because I still can’t make sense of it even today. While drifting through this dream stage of slowly letting go, not just letting go, but letting go of reality, I recall being taken out of this stage and pulled back to reality by a loud cry from what sounded like my brother, “BOAT!” Startled I glanced at my brother in surprise. I saw his face was turned away from the jet ski looking out into the water. I immediately looked out into the water and beheld what I thought to be a giant boat. My heart was filled with relief. I only had to hang on a little bit longer. As the boat came closer and closer, I realized what I had to do — it was now or never. After clinging onto the sinking jet ski for more than 2 hours, it was time to let go and make a swim for it. (The last time I had let go of the jet ski I had almost drowned. Needless to say, I was a little reluctant.) The boat came within ten feet of my brother and started to come around to my side. That’s when I made the leap of faith. I pushed off with all my might and frantically swam toward the boat! After what felt like an eternity, I made it! I swam to the ladder with what strength I had left. I remember getting to the ladder and realizing I couldn’t pull myself up and climb on the ladder. Then I remember having big strong arms grab me and pull me out of the frigid water and onto the boat deck. After hitting the deck, I just laid there staring at the sky.
“It was complete,” I said to myself. While staring up at the sky I wondered whether God would take me from this world or grant me the gift of life to see another day. It was all up to Him now.
I remember the boat slowly speed up while breaking each wave that we came across. After a few moments of driving, I remember one of the men who had rescued me came over by my side and shouted in a confirming voice “You’re going to make it!” Not two seconds later I heard the driver ask, “How is he doing” the man by my side looked up and said “Not so good!” Oh, great, I thought to myself. I had given it all just to stay conscious. I had done everything I could and now my fate was not in my hands anymore. A few moments later, my mind sank into darkness, peace, and silence. I had done it…
I became conscious of them putting me into the ambulance, out of the ambulance and into the hospital, and being rushed through the hallway having people running and shouting all around me. I lost consciousness again while being rushed through the hall way. When I regained it, I remember lying on a table having medical equipment all around me and people going back and forth and all around.
After a few moments of staring up at the ceiling, one of the nurses noticing that I was awake came up to me and started asking me questions. My mind suddenly shot into action: I started from the first question. She asked. “What type of water vehicle were you on?” I answered a jet ski. She nodded her head and continued, “How many people were with you?” I responded…but when I answered, she gave me a concerned expression and then continued on with her questions. I remember answering her in detail on every question, but it turns out that I just kept responding “jet ski” for every question.
After going in and out of consciousness again, I remembered different parts of the near-death experience. I tried to put it all into perspective. One part that hit me the hardest was my brother! Where is he? Did he make it? Did they grab him too? I hadn’t seen him since I glanced at him right before the boat came. In a frantic effort to find the answers to my questions, I looked around for anyone that would hear my cry among the business of the emergency room. Just then, a man came to my side that looked like he was the head nurse along with the head doctor. Knowing that this could be my only chance in a while to find out the fate of my brother I mustered what energy I had and in a loud voice cried out, “My brother! Where is my brother?” In surprise, the man turned to me with a concerned face. I could tell that he was thinking about what I just said. After a few more moments, he turned and began asking people around him. Finally, he turned to the head doctor and asked him, “Did this boy have a brother with him? Did he make it? Where are they keeping him?” the man asked looking quickly up at the doctor.
The doctor stood there in silence as his eyes slowly fell to the ground followed by his head. He looked up at the man shaking his head in an expression of sadness and grief that is forever engraved in my mind and burned in my heart. That was it; that was the moment I found out my brother’s fate. With that image in my mind, it slowly fell into darkness yet again.
When I woke up, I noticed I was in a new room. To my surprise, there was no one around. I wasn’t really sure where I was but I knew I was safe and warm, and it was good enough for me. I laid there in stillness letting my body soak in the warm and softness of the blankets wrapped around me. While in this peaceful state, I heard a small knock on the door. I slowly glanced over to see a nurse stick her head in to see if I was awake. When she saw that I was awake, she made her way into the room and cheerfully announced, “You have a visitor!” After she announced that I had a visitor, a woman walked into the room. My mind and face were blank, until the nurse said, sensing the confusion, “It’s your mom!” Immediately it all came back — everything that had happened to me that day.
After the enduring and holding on I was finally able to let go and have an amazing one-on-one talk with my mom. During the conversation is where I found out how close I had been. I also found out to my great joy that my brother had made it. He lived! I still had my brother and I was very grateful. Those were the most peaceful and assuring times of my life. I was able to see my brother the very next day. The rest of the day was followed by my mother’s sweet comfort; she being the amazing mom she is brought both my brother and I, two bacon cheeseburgers with fries. That’s my mom! Through the rest of the day and night, I was able to rest.
Grant Hammon is presently serving a mission for the LDS Church in Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk.