MOAB, Utah (June 10, 2012)--Searchers have recovered the body of Waley Liang, 21, who fell into the Colorado River several days ago during a trip with University of Texas at El Paso geology students, to Utah, authorities said.
The Grand County Sheriff's Office says in a statement that the body was found at around 12:40 p.m. Saturday a quarter of a mile below the area he was last seen.
Authorities said Liang was trying to follow six other people through the river to an island 50 yards from the Gold Bar Recreation Area at around 5 p.m. Wednesday when he was pulled under by a strong current.
The people on the island tried to rescue him, but couldn't find him.
Authorities spent the next three days searching the river using boats, divers and search dogs.
Liang was a junior and in his first semester at UTEP after transferring from El Paso Community College.
He was a 2009 graduate of Franklin High School.
