Man dies swimming to lake shore from sinking boat, Colorado officials say

Two people were rescued on Lake Pueblo after a ski boat sank, but a third passenger who tried to swim to shore died, Colorado park rangers reported.

The boat began taking on water and quickly sank shortly after launching on the evening of Saturday, July 15, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said in a news release.

Rangers rescued two people wearing life jackets who surfaced after the boat went underwater about 50 yards offshore, the release said.

But a man wearing boots and pants but no life jacket tried to swim to shore, rangers said. He began to struggle and sank beneath the surface.

Onlookers on shore tried to swim out to the man in a “frantic” rescue attempt but could not reach him before he vanished, rangers said.

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office dive team later recovered the man’s body in 7 feet of water, rangers said.

“While we continue to investigate, this appears to be a tragic accident,” said Daryl Seder, senior park ranger at Lake Pueblo, according to the release.

It is the first death on Lake Pueblo in 2023.

Lake Pueblo is about 120 miles south of Denver.

What to know about 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 July 16, 2023 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Man dies swimming to lake shore from sinking boat, Colorado officials say."