Man dies after struggling to get to shore while inner tubing, Colorado officials say
A 41-year-old man wearing a wetsuit and life jacket died while inner tubing in a Colorado river, officials said.
At 2:40 p.m. on June 16, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical services received reports of a man “struggling to make it to the shore” on Arkansas River near Buena Vista, according to a news release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The man became unresponsive and floated downstream after struggling, officials said.
A rafting company in Johnson Village, near the incident, was called, officials said.
Workers tied a “rope to a company employee who entered the river” as they saw the man coming toward them, officials said. The man was pulled from the water and taken to shore.
Paramedics administered CPR, but the man died at the scene, officials said.
Buena Vista is about 120 miles southwest of Denver.
Drowning
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
This story was originally published June 19, 2023 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Man dies after struggling to get to shore while inner tubing, Colorado officials say."