The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal incident that occurred over the weekend during a private tubing trip down the Arkansas River, east of Portland in Fremont County.
On Saturday, Arkansas River Recreation Area Rangers were notified that a man was receiving CPR along the riverbank a few miles downstream from Portland. According to reports, a group of seven individuals on innertubes had entered the river near the town of Portland, intending to float to their campsite a few miles away. During the trip, the group got separated, and one man, in his mid-thirties, fell off his tube and into the water.
A nearby fisherman observed the unresponsive man in the river and was able to bring him to shore and begin CPR. Despite the resuscitation efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
This incident highlights the increasing danger of water-related activities in Colorado, as the state is on pace to surpass the record 42 water-related fatalities set in 2022.
For safety tips and more information on water safety, please visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.
