Only Survivor: A young daughter is the sole survivor after her firefighter captain father, mother, and three brothers were killed in Utah’s devastating flash floods
A FIRE captain’s daughter has been left the sole survivor of her family after her parents and three brothers were swept away by devastating flash floods.
Captain Spencer Long, 59, his wife Katrina and the couple’s sons were all killed when torrential rain triggered deadly flooding through a scenic canyon in Utah.
The family had been hiking and canyoneering near Bicknell in Wayne County on Friday when powerful thunderstorms suddenly dumped huge amounts of rain, KUTV reported.
Authorities said the family is believed to have “fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains.”
Deputies were called to Sunglow Campground on Friday evening after the body of a young male was found in a flood wash.
Three family members, including Captain Long and two of his sons, were found that night, while the remaining two bodies were recovered on Saturday morning.
The victims were later identified as Provo Fire Captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina and their sons Gage, Reid and Thayne.
Lydia Long survived because she was not on the family trip, according to KSL-TV, and is now facing the unimaginable loss of her entire immediate family.
The Provo Firefighters Union said one of its wildland rapid extraction teams was pulled away from battling a nearby wildfire to help search for “one of our own.”
Provo Fire & Rescue later confirmed the heartbreaking deaths.
“We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family,” the department said.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. Out of respect for the family and the ongoing official process, we will not be commenting further at this time.”
Katrina was also well known in her community as the co-founder of Summit Medical Spa and a former Mona City councilmember.
Paying tribute, Mona City said: “Katrina dedicated countless hours of service to our community, and her kindness, leadership, and commitment made a lasting impact on so many lives.
“We will forever be grateful for all that Katrina and her family have done to support and strengthen our community.”
Summit Medical Spa described Katrina as “the heart” of the business and said there were “simply no words to express the depth of this loss.”
A GoFundMe launched by family friend Bree Nielson to help Lydia rebuild her life and cover funeral expenses quickly surpassed its initial $100,000 target, raising nearly $160,000 by Sunday evening.
The fundraiser says: “In an instant, their daughter Lydia lost the people she loved most and is now facing an unimaginable future without them.
“No amount of money can take away Lydia’s pain or replace the family she has lost. But together, we can help ease some of the burdens she now carries and remind her that she is not alone.
“Every donation, no matter the amount, is a meaningful expression of love and support.”
