Two drownings in one weekend at Colorado state parks

Two men perished at two state parks in Colorado over the weekend, the apparent victims of accidental drownings.

On Saturday, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department reported that its officers responded to an emergency call at Lake Pueblo State Park.

Witnesses said a man had jumped into the water from a boat to beat the heat, then resurfaced unconscious.

Bystanders were attempting to administer CPR to the man in the boat when the CPW rangers reported to the scene. 

CPW says every effort was made to save the individual, but the man died at the scene.

“CPW rangers arrived within six minutes when one of the rangers jumped into the boat transporting the victim and took over CPR,” the agency said. “The boat drove to the North Boat Ramp where CPR continued. A Flight for Life helicopter landed at the park, but the victim was already deceased.”

CPW said the cause of death was still under investigation but that all signs point to an accident.

That incident was preceded by a separate fatal drowning the day before, this one at the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA).

CPW says that a pair of kayaks navigating the famous whitewater of the Arkansas River capsized. One man died at the scene even though all involved were wearing safety gear, including helmets and life vests.

Rangers said they received reports of two inflatable kayaks capsizing in the cold and turbulent waters of the Arkansas. One kayaker was able to swim to shore safely. The other kayaker didn’t make it.

“A bystander followed the victim using their own kayak and eventually pulled the victim to shore above Johnsons Village, south of Buena Vista,” CPW said. “Once on shore, the bystander began CPR and called 911.”

The victim was pronounced dead at the site.

Public Parks enjoyed a day of whitewater rafting at AHRA many years ago. The terrain is arid and of a high-desert quality, but the waters of the Arkansas are notoriously cold as the river is fed by high alpine snow melt.

AHRA offers some of the best whitewater rafting in the country. In colder seasons kayakers are advised to where drysuits. The two involved in last weekend’s incident were, but this and other safety gear didn’t save one of them.

AHRA park manager Tom Waters responded to the tragedy by recommending kayakers and rafters alike possibly hire a commercial rafting guide as know the river best and understand the season conditions and hazards there.