Body found hours after paddleboard and life jacket found on shore, CO rangers say

A paddleboarder reported missing by their family has been found dead at a Colorado reservoir, rangers reported.

Officers with Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded to reports of a missing person at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Harvey Gap Reservoir, the agency said in a news release. Family members said they last saw the missing person three hours earlier, officials said.

Searchers found a paddleboard, paddles and a life jacket on the shore, suggesting the missing person had gone swimming in an unauthorized part of the lake, rangers said.

A search with a K-9 and a boat equipped with sonar failed to find the missing person, rangers said. A dive team arrived and searched using a remote operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with sonar, lights, and video.

The ROV found and recovered the missing person’s body underwater at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, June 22, rangers said.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy and we send our deepest sympathies to the family of this victim,” Harvey Gap State Park Manager Brian Palcer said in the release. “We hope that this recovery will bring a little comfort to the family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one.”

Harvey Gap Reservoir is about a 180-mile drive west from 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 June 23, 2025 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Body found hours after paddleboard and life jacket found on shore, CO rangers say."