2 hikers from Florida killed in Utah flooding, others rescued by chopper

SALT LAKE CITY (TND) — Two men from a medical practice in Florida were killed across the country in Utah while they were hiking in Buckskin Gulch.

They were reported missing on Monday while there were flash floods in the area the men had planned to hike.

"Tragedy has hit the practice" is how the medical group announced the tragedy on Facebook.

William Romaniello was a certified athletic trainer and Dr. Jeffrey Watson was an orthopedic surgeon.

The men had planned to hike 30 miles in the permit-only area through sandstone features that include multiple deep and narrow slot canyons.

KUTV reported the area is rife with astonishing sandstone rock formations, including miles of narrow and steep slot canyons, which are prone to dangerous flash flooding. Hikers don't have many options when the waters start rushing, and crews are similarly limited in their abilities to rescue them, either.

Then, search and rescue crews had to deal with the same conditions that likely led to the search.

Lead Lt. Allen Alldredge told KUTV quicksand was one of the ongoing concerns. He said it could pull a person down to their waist unless they could grab onto someone or something.

Rescue crews even encountered 10 luckier hikers who were stuck in slot canyons. Some were able to signal for help.

Flooding is still a threat in Utah.

A two-day sandbagging event is taking place in Salt Lake County, Friday and Saturday. The mayor, public works employees, emergency management leaders, and volunteers armed with shovels hope to fill 15,000 bags.