Rafter dies after being pulled from 'super-high' Poudre River northwest of Fort Collins
A man pulled from the Poudre River on Tuesday afternoon has died, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office. The man's death marks the first death on the river this year.
The sheriff's office received a report of a private raft overturned in the river just east of Mishawaka Amphitheatre in the Poudre Canyon about 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Wednesday news release.
Poudre Canyon Fire Protection District was called to the scene, and they were assisted by Larimer County's Emergency Services Unit and Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Poudre Canyon Fire Protection District Chief Hugh Collins told the Coloradoan Tuesday.
A citizen witness, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer and three deputies performed CPR while waiting for medical help, the sheriff's office said in its Wednesday release. The adult male was taken to Hewlett Gulch in a wildlife agency vehicle, with responders continuing CPR during transport. A medical helicopter flew him from Hewlett Gulch to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The man has not been publicly identified.
The sheriff's office release said rafters in the group were experienced and had proper equipment, including an SOS device, which notified emergency responders. It was the second emergency call made Tuesday regarding rafters on the Poudre River, the sheriff's office said in its release.
The section of the river where the fatal incident happened is known as Upper and Lower Mishawaka. It is a popular section in part because of its rapids.
Poudre River: Officials warn not to float Fort Collins section of the river
Brad Modesitt, owner of Fort Collins-based commercial rafting company Mountain Whitewater, said his company was guiding a trip with seven rafts, including safety rafts, and 50 people about 30 minutes ahead of when the incident happened.
He said the river was flowing at 1,850 cubic feet per second Tuesday afternoon, which he considers "super high'' water.
"When it's flowing that high, it's big, big stuff and it's game on,'' Modesitt said. "In that big of water you need to have all your safety measures in place even if you are experienced.''
Modesitt said the rapids in the section Tuesday were "running a good 4-plus.'' American Whitewater classifies rapids on a scale of I to VI with IV considered advanced and V expert.
Modesitt said commercial rafting companies were guiding trips on the river Tuesday. He said his company portaged around other rapids because of their difficulty.
Unusually high temperatures over the weekend rapidly increased the Poudre River's flow. Modesitt said the river rose 1,000 cubic feet per second Saturday night into Sunday morning, reaching about 2,750 cfs.
He said that prompted the company to postpone Sunday morning commercial rafting trips before resuming in the afternoon when the flow decreased by 600 cfs.
Wednesday morning, the river was flowing at 1,740 cfs.
This time of year, the water is also cold because the river's source is snowmelt from the mountains, which can further complicate incidents when boaters fall into the river.
Officials are advising people not float the river in Fort Collins due to the river's high flow and cold water.
Poudre River fish kill: Last year's flood killed thousands of trout, officials confirm
River safety tips
Dress for the weather. Consider wetsuits or layer your clothing to reduce loss of body temperature should you end up in the water. Also have a properly fitted life vest and helmet.
Have a means to regularly check the weather forecast before and during your trip. Download weather apps on your phone that forecast the local weather.
Avoid boating alone, and if you do, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
Bring a cellphone or VHF radio in a watertight bag in case you need to call for help.
Carry a throw rope, signaling devices and whistles in case someone falls overboard.
If you get caught in a fast-flowing river, first look for help from the boat. Do not try to stand up. Try to float feet first in a half sitting position and try to swim to shore.
If you see someone struggling in a river or other fast-flowing water, do not go in after them. Instead, reach out or throw a rope to them.
Note where the person is in the river and where you are so you can give that information to first responders.
Try to keep eyes on the person and follow them as they float down the river. If at any point you can't see them, note where you last saw them and give that information to rescuers.
If you lose your gear and are unable to retrieve it safely, call the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency phone number, 970-416-1985 with a good description of the lost items and last known location. This helps emergency response personnel when receiving calls from concerned citizens regarding items seen floating in the water.
Take a boating safety class.
Reporter Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports — you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or on Twitter @MilesBlumhardt. Support his work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Rafter dies after being pulled from 'super-high' Poudre River
