Man celebrating July 4 with family falls into river and drowns, Colorado officials say
A man was celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with his family at a river when he fell into the strong current and drowned, Colorado officials said.
It happened around 4:45 p.m. on the South Platte River near Deckers, an unincorporated community along the river, theJefferson County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook. Deckers is about a 65-mile drive south of Denver.
Jorge Ramirez-Flores, a 57-year-old from Aurora, was walking on rocks along the river when he lost his balance and fell into the water, officials said.
One of his family members tried to grab him but couldn’t stand up to the fast-moving current that swept him quickly downstream, officials said.
The current swept him about two miles downstream to the Gaskill Bridge, where bystanders saw his body and pulled him out of the water, officials said.
He was unresponsive as the bystanders gave him CPR and waited for paramedics, officials said. North Fork Fire took over, but resuscitation efforts were not successful.
People praised the bystanders who tried to help and shared condolences with the family in the comments section.
“What a shame. Well done to those who tried to help,” someone said. “Sorry for this family.”
“How awful for the family, bystanders who tried to help and for our community,” someone else said.
The river at Deckers was flowing on the higher side on July 4, according to a local fly-fishing shop that operates on the river.
“This (year’s) runoff has been one for the record books,” Angler’s Covey said on its website. “Use extreme caution in high flows and stay out of the water.”
Colorado Parks and Wildlife warned those celebrating the holiday to wear life jackets near the water after a particularly deadly few years on the water, according to a July 2 news release.
“This year, the majority of water-related deaths occurred because people did not wear a life jacket,” officials said. “There have already been over 20 water-related fatalities in Colorado this year, and the outdoor summer season is just beginning. In 2023, CPW tracked 32 water-related fatalities, down from 42 in 2022, a state record. CPW tracked 22 deaths in 2021 and 34 deaths in 2020.”
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 5, 2024 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Man celebrating July 4 with family falls into river and drowns, Colorado officials say."
