Rescue crews have recovered the body of a paddleboarder who fell into Rampart Reservoir and disappeared during a wind storm northwest of Colorado Springs on Saturday afternoon.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to the report reservoir east of Woodland Park late Saturday afternoon after witnesses reported seeing a man fall into 62-degree water and disappear, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said in a press release.
A dog on the paddleboard managed to stay afloat before eventually swimming to shore.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife water rescue team used sonar and a remotely operated submersible to search the 500-acre reservoir and found the man’s body underwater at 1 a.m. Sunday.
His name will be released by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.
This is at least the 30th water-related death in Colorado so far in 2024, state officials said in a news release.
“This is a tragedy and we extend our condolences to the victim’s family and friends,” CPW Boating Safety manager Grant Brown said in a statement. “We’ve had far too many water deaths in Colorado. We urge everyone on or near the water to wear a life jacket.”
Falling into water that cold can cause a person’s body to cramp and become unable to swim, Brown said.
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