CPW rangers recover body in Lake Pueblo; investigate boating death in Royal Gorge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Bill Vogrin
Southeast Region Public Information Officer
719-466-3927 / [email protected]

June 7, 2022

CPW rangers recover body in Lake Pueblo; investigate boating death in Royal Gorge 

PUEBLO, Colo. – Two people died in separate incidents Monday along the Arkansas River and their deaths are being investigated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife Rangers and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office

The first death occurred in mid-afternoon in the Royal Gorge, west of Cañon City, when a private boat, on a two boat trip with three people aboard flipped in the Sunshine Rapid. The victim lost contact with the boat and tried to swim through a rapid known as Sledge Hammer.

The victim was pulled from the water downstream and commercial rafting guides who were in the same area assisted the private trip and started live-saving CPR and deployed and automated external defibrillator (AED) until Emergency Medical Technicians arrived and took over efforts. 

However, the victim was not revived and was pronounced dead before CPW Rangers arrived from the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) in Salida to investigate the incident.

The body of the victim was turned over to the Fremont County Coroner who will identify the remains and determine the cause of death.

“While we continue to investigate, this appears to be a tragic accident,” said Tom Waters, AHRA park manager. “We offer our condolences to the family and friends of this victim.”

A short time later downstream in the Lake Pueblo State Wildlife Area, a swimmer went missing from a group in Fish Hook Cove.

Rangers from Lake Pueblo State Park received the call for help at 4:06 p.m. and raced to the cove by boat, arriving at 4:19 p.m. An underwater drone known as a Remote Operated Vehicle, or ROV, was deployed to search the 30-feet -deep waters of the cove using its Sonar, camera and lights. A body was found after just about an hour later.

“This is yet another senseless loss of life," said Joe Stadterman, park manager at Lake Pueblo. “We are all heartbroken to lose yet another park visitor. Especially so soon after the two recent drownings here. We will continue to educate our guests to recreate responsibly and to wear life preservers when on or near the water.”

The body was turned over to the Pueblo County Coroner’s office for identification and an official determination of the cause of death.

Stadterman offered condolences to the victim’s family and friends.

If confirmed as drownings, these two deaths would bring the total to 11 drownings in Colorado in 2022. A record 34 people drowned in Colorado in 2020.