Body recovered after boat capsizes at Lake Pueblo
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers recovered the body of a second boater late Friday after a fishing boat capsized earlier in the day at Lake Pueblo State Park.
The CPW Maritime Emergency Response Team located the victim shortly before 9:30 p.m. The body was brought to the south boat ramp and turned over to the Pueblo County Coroner.
The search began after a boat capsized near Pedro’s Point at Lake Pueblo earlier in the afternoon.
Initial 911 calls were received at 12:48 p.m., and CPW officers were en route with a sonar-equipped patrol boat by 1:00 p.m. when they were waved down by a civilian boat transporting a survivor to the south marina.
North Shore Marina at Lake Pueblo State Park - Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Authorities said the survivor had swum approximately 100 yards to shore before flagging down another boater, who then called 911 and transported the person toward the marina. Officers were informed that another person remained missing from the capsized boat.
Officers immediately began a sonar grid search and alerted other emergency responders, including a UCHealth Lifeline helicopter that assisted with search efforts during the first hour of the response.
Pueblo West firefighters evaluated the rescued boater, who was transported by American Medical Response to Parkview-Pueblo West Emergency Services.
Earlier in the evening, officers also recovered the body of a dog from beneath the capsized boat. The animal was turned over to animal control officers.
Officials said the capsized vessel was a 14-foot flat-bottom fishing boat equipped with a 6-horsepower engine and a trolling motor. The boat was swamped by whitecaps.
Water depth in the area was approximately 40 feet and water temperatures were about 44 degrees at the time of the incident.
Authorities said the boat had life jackets onboard, but they were not being worn.
“Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers our condolences to the family and friends of the victim, and everyone involved in this tragic incident,” said Joe Stadterman, Lake Pueblo State Park Manager.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages all visitors participating in water recreation activities to wear life jackets.
