Mourners sing Tongan hymn as body of returned missionary recovered from Utah river

PROVO, US — Family and friends of a Tongan drowning victim in Provo, Utah made a tribute through hymn.

The body of the 21-year-old West Valley City resident was recovered from the waters of Olmstead Diversion Dam shortly before 9 pm Saturday, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

The man was identified as Albert John “AJ” Mapa, according to tweets by Utah County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Spencer Cannon.

Mapa recently returned to Utah after serving a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission to Tonga, Cannon said.

“His family and friends shared one of his favorite Tongan hymns,” Cannon tweeted.

Mapa was reported missing in the water about 5.45 pm Saturday, prompting a response from sheriff’s deputies, search and rescue crews and North Fork firefighters, according to Cannon.

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