Man dies in rafting accident on Arkansas River; Fremont County Sheriff’s Office investigating – Canon City Daily Record

The lights of an ambulance. Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer, December 30, 2015

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a man died Saturday during a private raft ride on the Arkansas River east of Portland in Fremont County.

CPW Arkansas River Recreation Area rangers were notified around 11 a.m. that a man was receiving CPR on the riverbank a few miles downstream from Portland. First responders from multiple agencies, including Florence EMS, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Coroner and CPW, arrived at the scene.

A group of seven people reportedly entered the river near the city of Portland on inflatable boats, planning to float to their campsite on private property several miles downstream. During the trip, the groups split up and one person, a man in his mid-30s, reportedly fell from his inner tube into the water.

A passerby who was fishing nearby noticed the unconscious man in the river and was able to bring him to the bank together with others and begin resuscitation.

Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and Fremont County medical personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene. No flotation device was seen on or near the victim at the time of the incident.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends,” said Tom Waters, AHRA park manager.

The body was turned over to the Fremont County Coroner for determination of cause of death, formal identification, and notification of next of kin.

Colorado is currently on track to surpass the record of 42 water-related deaths set in 2022.