Army veteran, 46, drowns after jumping into Utah lake to save his wife after she dived from boat without a lifejacket - as the vessel they were on drifted away during the rescue mission

A Utah husband drowned on Sunday after he jumped into a lake in an attempt to save his wife, according to local authorities. 

Justin Shannon, 46, had been boating in Wahweap Bay off Lake Powell with six other people when his wife, Melissa Shannon, jumped into the water. 

Melissa had not been wearing a life jacket, and 'high winds' caused her to 'begin to struggle', according to a release from the National Park Service. 

Justin is said to have jumped into the late in an effort to save Melissa but he too was not wearing a jacket. As a result, he began to struggle as well, the release states.   

Justin Shannon, 46, had been boating in Wahweap Bay off Lake Powell with six other people when his wife, Melissa Shannon, jumped into the water

Melissa had not been wearing a life jacket, and 'high winds' caused her to 'begin to struggle. Justin is said to have jumped in to save his wife

'Windy conditions caused the boat to drift away from the swimmers and mechanical problems delayed restarting the vessel,' NPS said in the statement.

'A Type IV throwable device was tossed toward the victim but he was unable to grab the device.'

The boat was eventually restarted and another passenger was able to save Melissa by jumping into the water and getting her into a life jacket. 

That same person was able to retrieve Justin, who had been underwater. Justin was carried back onto the boat and CPR was administered as the boat traveled one mile to the Stateline Launch Ramp.  

Another passenger on the boat was eventually able to save Melissa but was only able to retrieve Justin's body from underwater

Two off-duty fire fighters provided CPR to Justin once at the ramp and NPS Rangers also continued life saving efforts, but without success. 

Justin Shannon was pronounced dead at approximately 8pm and transported to the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office in Salt Lake City for an autopsy. 

The incident is currently under investigation by the Kane County Sheriff's Office, National Park Service and the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office.  

A GoFundMe made for Justin Shannon by his wife shares that he was a veteran who served in the U.S. Army for three years followed by a stint as an arborist for 10 years. 

Justin Shannon was pronounced dead at approximately 8pm and transported to the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office in Salt Lake City for an autopsy

The father 'loved the ocean, playing loud music and working out at the gym and doing body building shows', the fundraiser page read. 

'He loved nothing more than seeing his family together. His laugh was something that could carry through any ground,' said his daughter, Regan Shannon-Wilcox. 

'He was always the life of the party. The most welcoming human to walk this earth. He had a heart of a teddy bear but would burn the world down if you asked him. Would drop anything in an instant for his kids, and his grandbabies were his world. He was a hard-working man no matter what issues it caused for him. He had the best hugs, the best laugh, the most Handsome smile.'