August 12, 2024
NEWS RELEASE
RE: Drowning at Palisades Reservoir
Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies recovered the body of a man who drowned in the Bear Creek Drainage of the Palisades Reservoir. Dispatch received a call just before 11pm on Saturday night (Aug. 10th) advising 4 people in a canoe had overturned and only three of them made it out of the water. Deputies responded to the area along with Idaho Falls Ambulance, Swan Valley Fire, Air Idaho Rescue, and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Dive Rescue and Drone Team. Witnesses advised Deputies none of the occupants in the Canoe were wearing life jackets and identified the missing man as 25-year-old Damion Pavlat of Idaho Falls.
A search ensued on the ground and from the air for several hours through the night by rescue personnel, resuming in the daylight hours. By mid-morning, Divers located Mr. Pavlat in the water approximately 13’ under the surface using sonar equipment and were able to recover his body.
Deputies are continuing to investigate, and no further information is available at this time.
