JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — The body of a paddleboarder was recovered from Chatfield State Park Monday evening following an extensive search and rescue effort, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced.
A man was sharing a paddleboard with his two children when a "large wind gust" knocked them all into the reservoir around 4:25 p.m. Nearby paddleboarders were able to rescue the children, but lost sight of the man.
Multiple agencies, including CPW, South Metro Fire Rescue, West Metro Fire and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, responded to the park to search for the man.
In an update around 7 p.m., SMFR said boats and divers had completed "extensive grid searches of the area" and "this has now moved from a rescue to a recovery operation." The man's body was recovered around 7:15 p.m., according to CPW.
A total of nine boats — five from CPW and four from SMFR and West Metro Fire — were in the water searching for the paddleboarder. Divers were also used to conduct a grid search.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident, and the county coroner will release the man's identity at a later time. According to CPW, he was not wearing a life jacket.
In its release, CPW urged Coloradans to use a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) while recreating on the water. Chatfield has a free life jacket loaner station for visitors.
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