CPW’s AHRA responds to report of man receiving CPR along Arkansas River in Fremont County, man declared deceased at the scene
Joey Livingston
Map of the Arkansas Headwater Recreation Area. Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife
CPW’s AHRA responds to report of man receiving CPR along Arkansas River in Fremont County, man declared deceased at the scenePORTLAND, Colo. - The Fremont County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a man died Saturday during a private tubing trip down the Arkansas River east of Portland in Fremont County.
CPW Arkansas River Recreation Area (AHRA) rangers were notified around 11 a.m. that a man was receiving CPR along the riverbank a few miles downstream of Portland. First responders from multiple agencies including Florence EMS, Fremont County Sheriff's Office, the Fremont County Coroner and CPW responded to the scene.
Reports indicate a group of seven people on innertubes entered the river near the town of Portland and planned on floating to their campsite on private land a few miles downstream. While tubing, the parties got separated and one person, a male in his mid-thirties, was reported to have fallen off his tube and into the water.
A bystander who was fishing nearby observed the unresponsive man in the river and was able to bring him to shore and begin CPR along with others.
Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and the victim was pronounced deceased on scene by Fremont County medical staff. No personal flotation device was observed on or near the victim at the time of the incident.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim,” said Tom Waters, AHRA park manager.
The body was turned over to the Fremont County Coroner for determination of the cause of death, formal identification and notification of the next of kin.
Colorado is currently on pace to surpass the record 42 water-related fatalities set in 2022.
Learn what you can do to stay safe on the water on CPW’s website.
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The AHRA is managed through a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Formed in 1989, this partnership allows agencies to provide visitors with recreation opportunities and care for significant natural resources of the upper Arkansas River valley.
Incident occurred east of Portland in Fremont County
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.