In October 2023, two people died, and a toddler was hospitalized after the boat bearing three kayaks capsized at a Colorado park in Lake Granby. According to PEOPLE, the body of the 21-year-old man was discovered on December 3, 2023, after he went missing.
The press release states: “On December 3, 2023, at approximately 6:45 a.m. the Grand County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a male subject in the water on Lake Granby in the area of Deer Island. The Sheriff’s Office along with Grand County Emergency Medical Services, Grand Lake Fire Protection District, Grand Fire Protection District No. 1, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and staff from the Beacon Landing Marina, responded to the area to attempt to locate this subject. While responding to the area, responders experienced massive snowfall, blowing and drifting conditions and zero or near-zero visibility.”
It also further explicated that the authorities were not able to conduct thorough research owing to “heavy winds and choppy waters.” The sheriff’s office shared several photos on various social media platforms, like X and Facebook, that showcased heavy snowfall as the search teams traveled through the water.
Very sadly, emergency responders located a male body in Lake Granby on 12/4.
Press Release➡️https://t.co/hDPsWlcmjK#GrandCounty pic.twitter.com/PgnMCbpP1e
— Grand County Sheriff (@GrandCoSheriff) December 5, 2023
On December 4, the responders discovered the man’s remains on the lake bed around 7:30 p.m.
The press release revealed that the dead body was retrieved with an underwater remote-operated vehicle (ROV). The missing kayaker’s body, upon being recovered, was placed under the care of the Grand County Coroner’s Officer, according to PEOPLE. The deceased man’s family arrived in Colorado upon receiving the news. The outlet reported that the deceased’s identity and death cause will be shared in the upcoming days by the coroner’s office.
In the press release, Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin addressed the issue of an increasing number of “water-related emergencies and recoveries.” Schroetlin added, “The formation of the Headwaters Water Rescue Authority encompasses law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel who plan and prepare for these operations and then immediately respond to these incidents to bring closure to the family.”
What happened in October?
In October, four people, including an adult and a child, were kayaking at Lake Pueblo State Park on Sunday afternoon, according to PEOPLE, when the kayak capsized owing to the “heavy winds.” Two adults, on their solo kayaks, tried to help the victims, but unfortunately, they capsized themselves.
As a consequence, two adults lost their lives. The Pueblo County coroner identified the victims as Colorado Springs residents Larry Foster, 26, and Catherine Dawes, 44. In the Sunday press release, the sheriff’s office the two adults had spent the night on Deer Island in the middle of the lake before the incident.
“As they attempted to kayak across the open water, the wind caused his friend’s kayak to capsize and he fell into the lake. The reporting party was unable to save his friend before he went underwater but was able to get himself back to shore,” according to the sheriff’s office.