Two adults died and a chid was hospitalized after kayaks flipped in the Lake Pueblo State Park (Picture: Getty Images)
Two adults were killed and a toddler was hospitalized after several kayaks flipped due to high winds and big waves in Colorado.
A kayak holding an adult and child capsized at Lake Pueblo State Park on Sunday afternoon when gusts reached 35 to 45 mph and waves became large, witnesses said.
Two other adults, each in their own kayak, tried to assist, but the waves also overturned their kayaks, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials.
Park rangers who responded to cries for help pulled the child from the water and performed CPR. The child was airlifted to a hospital.
A toddler who fell into Lake Pueblo was flown to a hospital (Picture: KRDO)
The body of one of the adults was quickly found. Another adult was located roughly an hour later using an underwater drone.
‘Park Manager Joe Stadterman launched an underwater drone, known as a remote operated vehicle, from shore to search for the other missing adult as the water was too rough for the search-and-rescue boat to operate its SONAR equipment,’ stated CPW.
‘Within an hour, Stadterman was able to locate the remains in water about 20 feet deep.’
The two adults were identified as Larry Foster, 26, and Catherine Dawes, 44. Their cause of death is being determined by the Pueblo County coroner.
Two adults died after their kayaks capsized and they fell into Lake Pueblo (Picture: KRDO)
‘This is another heartbreaking tragedy, and we send our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of these victims,’ stated Stadterman.
‘We continue to urge everyone to pay close attention to weather conditions and to wear life jackets when they are on or near the water so we can avoid future tragedies like today.’
The third adult who fell into the water survived reportedly did not need to be hospitalized.
There have been eight deaths on Lake Pueblo in 2022 and 38 water-related deaths in Colorado so far this year – the highest number recorded in the state’s history.
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Three kayaks capsized after gusts reached 35 to 45 mph and waves became large.