Paddleboarders rescued from Lake Pueblo as lifejackets prevent ‘potential tragedy’
Two people on stand-up paddleboards with their dogs at Lake Pueblo Reservoir Monday were saved by their life jackets and rescued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife rangers after they were blown about 250 yards from shore by strong winds.
CPW said Monday afternoon that witnesses saw the women and their dogs, all of whom were wearing personal floatation devices, get blown offshore and reported they were struggling to return to safety. One of the women had even been blown from her paddleboard and was struggling to get back on.
“They were in grave danger,” said Bill Vogrin, public information officer for CPW's southeast region. “They were in water that’s 103 feet deep.”
Park rangers Joe Portteus — who helped rescue 11 people from a capsized boat at the lake on May 29 in an incident where two people drowned — and Jasmine Wolcott raced to the scene in a CPW patrol boat and pulled the women and dogs to safety and returned them to shore.
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“That was a potential tragedy, but they had on life jackets that helped them up until our rangers could rescue them, the dogs included,” Vogrin said. “Those women were very smart, they protected themselves and their pets so that we could get there.”
Since Memorial Day weekend, six people have died at Lake Pueblo State Park, five of which were apparent drownings; the sixth death, 32-year-old Puebloan Arley Rodriguez-Lopez, who died at the lake on July 9, was determined to have been caused by injuries sustained in a boating accident, according to Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter.
With the recent deaths, Vogrin said CPW has heightened the number of patrols its rangers conduct and has increased its presence on the water. The agency has also led an extensive water safety education campaign to get the word out about the dangers of recreating at the lake without taking proper precautions.
But at some point, Vogrin said, the issue comes down to “personal responsibility.” He said Lake Pueblo, the most popular state parks in Colorado with approximately 2 millions visitors per year, has not considered limiting public access to the lake.
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“There’s only so much we can do,” Vogrin said. “Can you blame the State Patrol for (people) speeding? Do you limit access to the highways? No. You stress safety and responsibility and hope people will listen to the message and embrace it. And I think we saw that yesterday with the rescue of the two women and two dogs from the reservoir.
“They’re all alive, all four of them today, because they did in fact have on life jackets.”
Lake Pueblo, Vogrin said, is also far from the only Colorado state park that’s seen an uptick in drownings this year.
“We’re on a record pace statewide,” Vogrin said.
On July 7, in a news release announcing the recovery of a woman’s body at the lake, later identified as 22-year-old Rosalia Niz Niz, CPW said if the death was determined a drowning, marked the 23rd in Colorado in 2022.
A record 34 people drowned in Colorado in 2020.
“We’re trying to spread the message of water safety: protecting yourself and being safe,” Vogrin said. “Don’t drink and boat. Don’t drink and swim. Swim where it’s legal at the swim beaches, not just jumping in the reservoir. That water at Lake Pueblo drops off so fast from the shore that people don’t realize it. It’s cooler than they think. So there’s a lot of reasons we urge people to follow the rules and protect themselves when they’re in and near the water.”
CPW tips for practicing water safety
Before going onto the water at any Colorado state park, CPW advises recreators to make sure they are being mindful of posted rules and carrying basic safety gear.
Here are some tips from CPW on how to enjoy the water responsibly:
Wear your life jacket
Check your boat and all required boating safety gear.
Avoid boating alone and tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
Boat sober. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths.
Know that stand-up paddleboards are considered vessels in Colorado and require a life jacket on board at all times.
Protect yourself from the dangers of cold water immersion and shock. Regardless of your age or experience level, cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency.
For more information on Lake Pueblo State Park, visit cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/LakePueblo.
Chieftain editor Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@gannett.com or on Twitter @ZachHillstrom. Chieftain reporter Justin Reutter contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Lifejackets prevent 'potential tragedy' in Lake Pueblo rescue
