1 dead, 1 missing after rafting accident in Colorado mountains

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

0 1 minute read

GRAND COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – A 61-year-old man is still missing after a raft capsized in the Colorado River Saturday afternoon.

The Grand County Sheriff's Office said its dispatch center received a text message to 911 at 3:40 p.m. regarding reports of a person not breathing in the river.

“Other reports at the scene received by a Garmin device indicated that there had been a rafting accident,” the sheriff's office said.

Multiple agencies from Grand and Eagle counties went to the Yarmony Rapids area near the river where they found a bystander attempting to perform CPR on the victim. Despite these life-saving efforts, first responders later pronounced the man dead at the scene. He has only been identified as a 56-year-old man from the Denver area.

Responders then learned that there were two other people on board the raft when it overturned. One of the men managed to swim to safety, but the other did not reappear.

“Emergency responders used additional rafts, ground crews, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and a Union Pacific Railroad Hi-Rail to search the river and surrounding area for the missing subject, but “were unable to locate him,” the sheriff's office said. .

This victim has also not been identified, other than being from the Denver metro area. The sheriff's office said Bureau of Land Management river rangers will continue the search Sunday.

“Anyone rafting in the area is encouraged to be vigilant and call or text 911 for any additional information or sightings.”

Authorities said neither the deceased nor the missing man was wearing a life jacket when the raft overturned.