Accident Database

Report ID#63924

2022-05-25
accident date
Tommy Thompson
victim
75
victim age
Arkansas River
river
n/a
section
Lower Bighorn Sheep Canyon
location
n/a
gage
n/a
water level
IV
river difficulty
Health Problem
cause code(s)
Heart Attack / Heart Failure
injury type(s)
Cold Water
factors
Commercial
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

On May 25, Tommy Thomson, 75, was from The Woodlands, Texas., also died after falling from a commercial raft in the Lower Bighorn Sheep Canyon section on the Arkansas River west of Cañon City. Raft guides began performing CPR and later Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies and Fremont County EMS arrived on the scene. An Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, was deployed, but they were unable to revive him. The coroner said Thompson died from a cardiac event after falling into the water; he did not drown.