A group of six people were recreating on the Colorado River near Grand Junction, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) said. The sheriff's office said the group was using a paddleboard, a kayak and a river raft when they got into trouble near the 5th Street Bridge.
Five of the people were able to self-rescue by making their way to an island, while a woman who was riding the paddleboard had not been found, MCSO said. Mesa County Search and Rescue, the sheriff's office and the Grand Junction fire and police departments responded and launched a boat in the river.
The missing woman was found, but was not conscious or breathing, the sheriff's office said. Rescuers brought the woman to shore and performed life-saving measures until she could be taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. Just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, the sheriff's office said the woman had died. Her identity will be released by the Mesa County Coroner's Office after her next of kin have been notified.
Woman pulled from Colorado River dies
By The Grand Junction DAILY SENTINEL Staff
June 18, 2022
The woman who was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital after a river rescue Wednesday, died, the Mesa County Coroner’s Office announced. Kimberly Moore, 42, died from drowning, according to the coroner’s office, and the manner of death is an accident.
Moore was found unconscious by search and rescue crews who were responding to a group of six people who got into trouble floating the Colorado River near the Fifth Street Bridge. The five others were able to self rescue, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Sheriff’s Office said Moore had been on a paddleboard with a non-breakaway leash and not wearing a life jacket, although there was a life jacket on the board.
Mesa County Search and Rescue has performed eight river rescues since Saturday, according to the Sheriff’s Office, and people should make sure to have proper equipment and watch for debris in the river.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasized the need for a life jacket when recreating on the river and noted people should not use leashes on rivercraft unless they have breakaway features.
“This is a fast moving body of water,” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Megan Terlecky said. “It’s a great place to recreate but people need to take precautions.”
Colorado River drowning victim identified
By Kacie Sinton and Cyndy Koures
Published: Jun. 16, 2022 at 10:52 AM MDT
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - Officials released the name of the woman who died while paddleboarding on the Colorado River Wednesday.
Kimberly Moore, a 42-year-old Grand Junction resident, was with a group of six others Wednesday when they hit debris in the water near the 5th Street bridge. The others made it to safety, but Moore disappeared under the water.
Search and Rescue teams pulled Moore from the river near the 5th Street Bridge, unconscious and not breathing. She was immediately taken to the shore where emergency crews tried to resuscitate her, but she remained unresponsive. She was transported to St. Mary’s hospital, but was declared dead shortly after.
Her cause of death has been declared as drowning and the manner of death is accident. Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
Officials stated that she was not wearing a life jacket when she fell into the water, and that she was likely pulled under the water by a tether to her paddleboard. Officials advise always using breakaway tethers when paddleboarding on rivers.
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