Colorado Parks and Wildlife responds to suspected drowning at Lake Pueblo State Park
Bridget O'Rourke
PUEBLO, Colo. – A 53-year-old male was discovered deceased on Sailboard Beach at Lake Pueblo State Park on Wednesday, May 14, in the afternoon due to a suspected drowning. The male went out to help kids swimming in rough waters, and surrounding park visitors saw him go under the water and went to pull him out. Rangers from Lake Pueblo State Park received the call for help just before 2:45 p.m. and were on the scene within minutes. The witnesses, park staff and medical personnel all assisted with CPR for approximately 40 minutes, but were unsuccessful.
The male was not wearing a personal flotation device (a life jacket), and the water temperature was cold in the upper 50s with heavy winds.
The body was turned over to the Pueblo County Coroner’s office for identification and an official determination of the cause of death. Two of the kids were the victim’s children, and two were friends. All of the kids are safe and with their respective guardians.
Ahead of the boating season and summer holidays, CPW encourages all park visitors participating in water recreational activities to do the following:
- Wear a life jacket. A life jacket will keep your airway clear of water and your head above water and support your body should you stop swimming or become unconscious.
- Paddleboards and kayaks are considered vessels, and life jacket requirements apply.
- Be aware of the dangers of cold water shock. Water below 68 degrees Fahrenheit is dangerous. Sudden immersion in cold water can cause gasping, inhalation of water, and hypothermia, resulting in unconsciousness or swimming failure as muscles become numb.
- Heavy rain or snow melting in nearby mountains can raise water levels quickly and without notice. Check river flows at https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Stations.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
DISCLAIMER: The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website maintains press releases containing historical information that may no longer be accurate. Press releases are dated, which should be noted to determine whether the information provided is current. Please review our current regulations and brochures for up-to-date information.