One man dead, another missing in Colorado River rafting accident

One person has died and another is missing after rafting on the Colorado River.

According to a news release from the Grand County Sheriff's Office obtained by PEOPLE, three people, including a 56-year-old Denver-area man, a 61-year-old man and a third unnamed person, set out on a rafting trip. near Yarmony. Rapid, southwest of the rural town of Kremmling, Colorado, on Saturday, June 1.

Grand County officials received a text message to 911 around 3:40 p.m. that one of the men was not breathing after the raft capsized, the news release added. Officials from a number of agencies responded to the report, including personnel from the Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County Sheriff's Office, Eagle County Sheriff's Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and several others.

According to the sheriff's office, the unnamed 56-year-old man received CPR from first responders when they arrived and was later pronounced dead. The cause and manner of his death will be released “when appropriate,” the office said.

According to the press release, authorities used data from a Garmin device — a company that makes digital sports watches and other activity trackers — to determine that there had been a rafting accident.

The 61-year-old man, whose identity will be released “pending immediate family notification,” the sheriff's office said, disappeared after the raft capsized. The office said various teams, including personnel on rafts, on the ground nearby, operating rail vehicles and using unmanned aerial systems (or drones), searched for the man after the 911 report, but he has not yet been found.

The third person was able to reach the shore safely, the sheriff's office said in its release. Authorities also added that they believe the rafters were not wearing personal flotation devices, such as life jackets, at the time of the accident.

According to a report from The Colorado Sun, Researchers said the raft overturned in whitewater flowing around 3,200 cubic feet per second, a medium to fast measure of the speed of the Colorado River.

Colorado Sun also reported that this is not the first fatality to occur during Colorado's rafting season this year. Last week, on May 30, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office reported that a woman died after her raft struck a bridge pylon near the Greyrock Trailhead, more than 100 miles from Yarmony Rapid.

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According to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website, all whitewater rafters, as well as those who go kayaking or canoeing, should always wear a properly fitted life jacket, wear a helmet when visiting areas whitewater class IV or higher and “Be aware of the limits of yourself, your group and your equipment.”

“Never forget the power of the river and know the section of river you are navigating,” CPW advises.

The BLM River Rangers will continue the search for the missing man Sunday, the sheriff's office said.

“Anyone rafting in the area is encouraged to be vigilant and call or text 911 with any additional information or sightings,” the sheriff’s office added.