**Tragic Drowning Incident Claims Life of Omaha Basketball Player Deng Mayar**
**Meta Description:** Omaha basketball player Deng Mayar, 22, tragically drowned at Blackridge Reservoir in Utah. The sports community mourns his loss.
**URL Slug:** deng-mayar-drowning-incident
**Headline:** Omaha Basketball Player Deng Mayar Dies in Drowning Accident
Deng Mayar, a 22-year-old men’s basketball player for Omaha, tragically lost his life in a drowning incident on Saturday at Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman, Utah. The incident unfolded when Mayar and his friend, 21-year-old Sa Mafutaga, encountered difficulties in the water. While Mafutaga managed to reach the shore with assistance from bystanders, he was unable to rescue Mayar. Emergency services were promptly alerted to the situation.
After several hours of searching, emergency officials utilized a submersible robot to locate Mayar’s body. Mafutaga was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover from the ordeal.
Omaha’s head coach, Chris Crutchfield, expressed the team’s devastation in a statement, saying, “Our entire program is devastated to learn of Deng’s passing. After competing against him for two years, we were elated to add him to our team, and he made tremendous progress this summer. Deng was a joy to be around and made our culture better. We will miss him greatly. Jodi and I, along with our entire program, send our hearts and prayers to Deng’s family, friends, and teammates.”
Mayar had transferred to Omaha after spending two seasons at North Dakota. North Dakota’s head coach, Paul Sather, also shared his condolences, stating, “Our hearts are broken to hear the tragic news of Deng’s passing. He was a wonderful person with a heart the size of a gym. Our thoughts are with his parents and family, along with all his teammates from UND and UNO. As competitive as he was on the court, he had a gentle nature and kind soul off the court. Deng will be greatly missed by all of those that knew and loved him.”
The sports community is mourning the loss of a talented player and a beloved individual, as tributes pour in from friends, family, and teammates.
**FAQ Section**
**Q: What happened to Deng Mayar?**
A: Deng Mayar tragically drowned at Blackridge Reservoir in Utah while swimming with a friend. Emergency services were called, but he was found hours later.
