CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Salida, Colorado

PRESS RELEASE
Date for release: Immediately
On June 10, 2015 at approximately 3:40 pm there was a whitewater related boating incident on the Arkansas River in Chaffee County, Colorado. The accident occurred at the Big Drop Rapids, a class 3 section of water located approximately 11 miles north of Salida, Colorado. The Arkansas River was running at 3020 CFS at the time of the accident.
According to witnesses the raft, a commercial rafting trip owned by The Adventure Company, of Johnsons Village, Colorado, entered the Big Drop Rapids in Browns Canyon. The raft high sided and 3 occupants of that raft fell into the river. Two of the three rafters were pulled to safety by other rafts in the area. A third occupant was not recovered.
Emergency crews responded to the area and a search began immediately. The search continued until nightfall at which time the victim had yet to be recovered.
The search for the victim will resume at first light tomorrow morning, June 11, 2015.
The victim was identified as an 11 year old male from Golden, Colorado.
Agencies assisting with the search operation were the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Chaffee County EMS, Chaffee County Search and Rescue North and South, Salida Fire Dept, Salida Police Dept and Flight for Life.