Search and rescue experts from several area agencies plan to resume searching Lake Pueblo on Tuesday for a man in a small aluminum boat who went missing along the north shore of Lake Pueblo State Park.

The search began shortly after noon Monday following calls from witnesses who reported seeing a small boat, hearing a loud noise, then seeing the boat disappear and a man in the water several yards off shore, calling for help.

When the man didn't swim to shore, the witnesses, who were fishing on the shore, called 9-1-1 for help.

Officers with Colorado Parks and Wildlife launched an immediate search using low-powered sonar and called in the Pueblo County Sheriff's Department dive team to search for the man, and any others who may have been in the boat. 

In addition, AMR responded along with Flight for Life, which remained at the scene on standby.

However, high winds Monday afternoon forced the rescue efforts to be suspended.

“It’s unfortunate the winds picked up Monday and made it difficult to search with sonar,” said Monique Mullis, manager of Lake Pueblo State Park. “The weather is looking promising for Tuesday morning and we will have additional equipment and another dive team. So I’m hoping we’ll have a quick resolution.”

On Tuesday, officials will use a high-powered sonar unit brought from CPW’s boat safety program in Littleton. It produces a high-resolution image as it is towed through the water. Also, a dive team from the Colorado Springs Fire Department is expected to be on the scene to take over the search.

The area of the search is just east of the Northshore Marina near the North Picnic area of the park.

The public is asked to avoid the area while emergency crews are conducting operations.