A kayaker lost his life in a terrible incident that happened on the Arkansas River on Tuesday night. The deadly incident that occurred during a private kayak excursion north of Buena Vista is being looked into by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) rangers from the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA).
The disaster happened below the Pine Creek access point in the extremely tricky Class V part of the river. Witnesses claim that at the bottom of Pine Creek Rapid, a strong, swirling rapid trapped the kayaker’s craft. Reviving him proved to be impossible, even though his friends acted quickly to pull him to shore and try CPR. The Chaffee County Coroner declared the kayaker dead at the spot. At 5:30 p.m., the Chaffee County dispatch center received the distress call, which prompted an instant response from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Chaffee County Fire, Chaffee County EMS, and CPW’s AHRA.
The victim’s family and friends have our sincere condolences, AHRA park manager Tom Waters said. “It looks like a tragic accident.” He noted that all three kayakers were experienced in challenging whitewater conditions and had appropriate equipment for this Class V section of whitewater. The river temperature was 53 degrees, and the river was running high due to the peak spring run-off from snowmelt. Waters urged the public to check river conditions by calling the AHRA before embarking on any trips and to consider using commercial rafting companies to ensure safety. The AHRA, managed through a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, has been providing recreation opportunities and caring for
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