Source: CVDaily Feed
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Kathryn Capener, the wife and mother of some of the victims of the tragic boating accident on Bear Lake, has issued her own statement about the events on that fateful Monday afternoon.

On Monday, my husband, Lance, and I were boating with our 7-year old daughter, Kilee, our 13-year-old daughter, Kelsey, and a group of Kelsey’s friends. Everyone was having fun, and the water had been good. Some of us went out on the boat for one last run. The wind storm and the waves picked up very suddenly, and despite our best efforts to steer through the waves and get back to shore, the boat capsized.

We immediately checked on all of the girls and got everyone gathered together in the water. The girls sang together and prayed to bring comfort and help. As time went on with the waves continuing to crash over everyone, we became separated from some of the girls.

Several hours passed while Lance and I battled the waves together with our youngest child, Kilee. We were waiting for the rescuers that we knew our friends on the shore would have sent, and calling out for the other girls. The rescue workers gave valiant efforts, and even though it was hours before they found us, they did not give up.

I am thankful to everyone who helped look for us. I am thankful to all of the people who worked so hard to try to save my husband and daughters. I know that everyone involved did everything possible to help us.

I would like to thank the caregivers at Logan Regional Hospital. They have shown me tremendous care and compassion. I continue to recover under their care and anticipate being released soon.

I want to send my love to Siera Hadley’s family. She has been a wonderful friend to my daughter, and she is very special to our whole family.

I am so touched by all of the support and help coming from my friends, ward members and the entire community. I have heard about so many of the expressions of concern and love being sent to my family.

I thank those who have respected my family’s privacy at this difficult time. I understand that many people are concerned about us and would like information; therefore, a family spokesperson, my sister Liesa Stockdale, will be available to handle these requests, while allowing me and my son the privacy we need to heal. Please direct all questions to her.

– Kathryn Capener

An additional statement was released Thursday afternoon by family spokesperson, and sister to Kathryn, Liesa Stockdale.

Kathryn is so touched by the outpouring of love and compassion that is being expressed to her and to those who are dearest to her during this very difficult time. So many people have wanted to know if they can help in any way. Your kindness and expression of love is helping her. She continues to get stronger each day. Her doctors anticipate she will make a full recovery and be released from the hospital soon. We thank those who continue to give our family privacy and time to heal together.

Kathryn would like to offer again her sincere gratitude to those who helped with the rescue efforts. She said there were several people around her taking many measures to help warm her up when she was rescued from the water. She said she felt they were doing everything they could for everyone involved. Kathryn’s husband, Lance, was a healthy, strong man and a marathon runner. When something tragic like this happens, people try to answer the questions of how or why some survived while others did not. Kathryn doesn’t know how she survived but feels deeply grateful that she is here for her son.

The day before the accident was an ordinary day for the Capener family. If there is something Kathryn would want people to take away from this tragedy, it is to cherish every day with your children and spouse because you don’t know when it will be the last day spent with them.

The family will make funeral arrangements known as soon as the arrangements are finalized.

– Liesa Stockdale, family spokesperson