(Pictures courtesy Grand County Sheriff’s Office)
A body has been recovered in Lake Granby. A man went missing on Sunday and his body was recovered today. Here’s more from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.
(Monday, Dec. 4)
On Sunday, December 3, 2023, at approximately 6:45 a.m. the Grand County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a male subject in the water on Lake Granby in the area of Deer Island. The Sheriff’s Office along with Grand County Emergency Medical Services, Grand Lake Fire Protection District, Grand Fire Protection District No. 1, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and staff from the Beacon Landing Marina, responded to the area to attempt to locate this subject. While responding to the area, responders experienced massive snow fall, blowing and drifting conditions and zero or near-zero visibility. Responders utilized the assistance of Grand County Road and Bridge plows to further access the area.
Emergency personnel arrived and contacted the reporting party who advised that he and his friend had spent the night on Deer Island and were attempting to return to their vehicle on the shore. As they attempted to kayak across the open water, the wind caused his friend’s kayak to capsize and he fell into the lake. The reporting party was unable to save his friend before he went underwater, but was able to get himself back to shore.
Responders were able to search the area with the assistance of Colorado Parks and Wildlife and a boat from Beacon Landing Marina, however the heavy winds and choppy water that initially affected the victim, also made it difficult for rescuers. Due to the weather experienced today, search operations were suspended at approximately 2 p.m. Additional search resources, including the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Marine Evidence Recovery Team (MERT), returned Monday, December 4, with additional specialized equipment to assist as the weather forecast was more favorable for search operations.
The missing adult male is believed to be a 21-year-old from the Denver Metropolitan area. The Sheriff’s Office is working to contact his immediate family.
(TUESDAY, DEC. 5)
GRAND COUNTY, CO – On December 4, 2023, emergency responders returned to Lake Granby to conduct additional searches for the missing subject. Responders utilized specialized equipment from the Headwaters Water Rescue Authority and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Marine Evidence Recovery Team (MERT), in addition to cellular forensics assistance provided by the Kremmling Police Department. The weather on Monday allowed for more favorable search conditions than responders had experienced on Sunday.
At approximately 7:30 p.m. responders located the decedent on the lake bed and were able to use an underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) to remove him from the lake. The decedent was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). The subject was returned to shore and placed in the care of the Grand County Coroner’s Office. Staff from the Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office have been in contact with the decedent’s family who had arrived from out-of-state on Monday. The Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the subject along with cause and manner of death when appropriate.
Sheriff Brett Schroetlin expressed, “Unfortunately, over the last several years, Grand County has experienced a significant number of water related emergencies and recoveries. The formation of the Headwaters Water Rescue Authority, encompasses law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel who plan and prepare for these operations and then immediately respond to these incidents to bring closure to the family.”
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