Man dies after raft overturns in the Arkansas River near Salida

A man died Friday when a raft overturned in the Arkansas River near Salida.

The incident happened about 3 p.m. when three people in a private raft entered the Bear Creek Rapid, a Class III rapid, and the raft flipped, according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife news release.

“All three people were thrown into the swiftly flowing, 60-degree water,” the release said.

One person safely made it to shore, and a second person was rescued by an Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area ranger who was patrolling the river.

The third passenger and the upside-down raft went missing downriver, triggering a search that included rangers, Parks and Wildlife officers, the Salida Fire Department, Chaffee County Emergency Medical Services, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas Valley Ambulance and Howard Fire Department.

“The upside-down raft eventually was spotted about 2 miles downstream, just above Wellsville,” the release said. “It appeared the third victim had become entangled with the raft and was unresponsive.”

The man, who was wearing a life jacket, eventually separated from the raft and came to rest on an island above the Wellsville Bridge, Parks and Wildlife said.

Private boaters retrieved the body and brought it to shore, where emergency responders performed CPR. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Chaffee County coroner will identify the man after family has been notified and will determine the cause and manner of death.

Friday’s incident is the 14th confirmed water-related death in Colorado in 2023, according to Parks and Wildlife, and the third in the Arkansas River in a week.