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Boy, 13, dies after canoe capsizes on Rock Bridge Lake, younger brother survives

Windsor Severance Fire Rescue_May 7 2020 body recovery
Posted at 6:22 AM, May 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-08 19:19:52-04

WINDSOR, Colo. — A 13-year-old boy died after a canoe tipped over in a Windsor lake Thursday afternoon. His younger brother survived.

Around 3:16 p.m. Thursday, Windsor Severance Fire Rescue responded to Rock Bridge Lake after receiving a report that a canoe had capsized, said Kris Kazian, fire chief at Windsor Severance Fire Rescue. The lake is near the Water Valley North subdivision.

When they arrived, they found a young male out of the water. Kazian said there were reports of a second person in the water, but that person wasn’t visible.

He said rescue crews were challenged to get in the water because of the 30 mph winds and large waves.

They worked for the next several hours with divers, a sonar system and a cadaver dog.

Around 7:15 p.m., the dog made a hit and divers entered the water. They recovered the body of a 13-year-old boy, Kazian said.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the two brothers had been in the canoe when it capsized. The other brother, who is 8 years old, was wearing a life vest and made it out. The 13-year-old wasn’t wearing a lifevest, Kazian said.

“It’s a very sad day for the town of Windsor. We’re a close group,” he said. “The family is being surrounded by family, friends and their church.”

On Friday afternoon, the Weld County coroner identified the 13-year-old boy as Mason Mages. Coroner Carl Blesch said a strong gust of wind overturned the boys' canoe and that the teenager was unable to remain afloat. Blesch said the boy's manner of cause and death are pending an autopsy and lab reports.

Units from Greeley, Loveland, Berthoud and Larimer County Search and Rescue helped with this incident.