Suppers, wear your PFDs.
That point struck home for the Colorado SUP community this past week when a stand-up paddleborder was blown off his SUP in Lake Dillon by a freak microburst and drowned.
According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office , on Saturday, July 16, 2022 approximately 8:20 pm., the Summit County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of a drowned paddle boarder from the Dillon Reservoir. The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m. Saturday, when the Summit County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call on Dillon Reservoir of a paddle boarder that had been blown off his paddleboard as a storm cell created a microburst over the lake.
Not Wearing His PFD
Witnesses reported that the male adult had a personal flotation device (PFD) strapped to his board but was not wearing it. The microburst separated the male from his board and he was unable to keep his head above the water. The victim was presumed drowned. Using specialized underwater Side Scanner Sonar and Remote Operating Vehicles (ROV) devices, the male victim was quickly located approximately 100 yards offshore from the Roberts Tunnel shoreline, direct across from Dillon Marina, in 60 feet of water. The Summit County Water Rescue Team, Summit County Rescue Group and Colorado State Parks Water Recovery Team assisted in the search and recovery of the victim.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim. These search and recovery events can be extremely long in duration. The longer they run the more pain and anguish they can cause. I am comforted that we were able to locate and recover the victim quickly and bring closure to his family and friends,” said Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons.
The case has been turned over to the Summit County Coroner’s Office whose responsibility is to release the name of the victim and the cause and manner of his death.
‘Truly tragic. We can assume he was not wearing a leash either, which could have saved him. While the use of leashes are debated for whitewater use, there is no reason to paddle on a large body of water without a leash.