CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR, Colo. — A child drowned Saturday at Cherry Creek Reservoir after drifting into deeper water on a float and going under around 4:25 p.m., according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The child’s body was recovered at 10:20 p.m. Saturday after a more than six-hour search of the reservoir by multiple dive teams, CPW Spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said during a press conference.
The victim was identified Monday as 7-year-old Ariel Mauricio Banda. His manner of death was ruled an accident.
The initial investigation began at around 4 p.m., when beachgoers at the state park noticed the child in the water, struggling to swim.
Van Hoose told the media that two kids were on a float in the water; one was able to walk back, and the other stayed on the float and later couldn't make it back to shore.
Rescue crews, including South Metro Fire Rescue, were on scene in a matter of minutes as they were conducting water rescue training at the state park Saturday afternoon.
While details are limited on what the child's supervisors were doing at the time of the incident, Van Hoose said the child was not wearing a life jacket and stressed the importance of everyone, regardless of swimming ability, wearing one while in the water.
Van Hoose added that because of the heat on the shore and the cold water temperatures, the body can go into shock, which could prevent a person's ability to swim.
This is the first drowning incident at the state park this summer season. However, it's the third child-drowning incident in recent days after two separate water‑related emergencies, in Boulder and Larimer counties, left two small boys dead Tuesday.
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