Yarmony Rapid has a big, avoidable hole at the top of the rapid at high flows.
From Fox 31 News: A 911 call came in at about 3:40 p.m. on Saturday reporting a man not breathing on the Colorado River, according to the sheriff’s office. Once on scene, first responders said they learned a raft had capsized, and a bystander was performing CPR. The 56-year-old man, identified by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office as Brent Boulter from Aurora, was pronounced dead by EMS personnel. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office said they learned another man. identified as Thomas Russel, 61, was still missing after the raft capsized.
One man dead, another missing after rafting accident in Colorado River
msoyars@skyhinews.com
June 2, 2024
On Saturday, a rafting accident on the Colorado River resulted in one man’s death, with another man from the rafting party missing. The third individual in the raft made it to safety.
According to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, the rafting party was in the Yarmony Rapid area of the river southwest of Kremmling when the accident occurred. Dispatch received a text to 911 at approximately 3:40 p.m. Additional information received from a Garmin device reported a bystander or bystanders performed CPR on the man found not breathing.
First responders reached the scene, and the man was pronounced deceased by EMS personnel. He is 56-years-old and from the Denver metro area. His body is in the care of the Grand County Coroner’s office. His identity and cause of death will be released by the coroner at a later time.
The search for the missing man is ongoing. The initial searches were done at Yarmony Rapid and downstream, where it was believed the raft capsized. According to preliminary reports, neither victim was wearing a life vest.
Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County Emergency Medical Services, Bureau of Land Management, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle County Paramedics, Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Greater Eagle Fire Protection District, and Vail Mountain Rescue initially responded to the area, since the accident was reported on the Grand/Eagle county line.
In searching for the missing man, first responders utilized additional rafts, ground crews, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and a Union Pacific Railroad Hi-Rail. The missing man’s identity will be released pending notification to his family. He is 61-years-old and also from the Denver metro area.
The Yarmony Rapid in the Upper Colorado River is considered Class II, but rises to a Class III rapid at 1,500 cfs and above. The river can flow as high as 5,000 cfs or more. During higher flows, a large hole forms above a boulder on the right side of the rapid. This hole can cause rafts to capsize. Rapid classes range from I to VI, with I considered easy floats and VI extremely dangerous.
Hugh McLaughlin writes: This was not on the Gore Canyon section as stated by the police. It was on the upper Colorado at Yarmony rapid. People on the upper Colorado often go out without any pfds. We see them all summer long. For some reason everyone thinks this section is a benign easy stretch of water.
Grand County Sheriff's Office - Colorado
On Saturday, June 1, 2024, at approximately 3:40 p.m. the Grand County Communications Center received a text to 911 reporting a subject that was not breathing on the Colorado River in the Gore Canyon, South West of Kremmling.
Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Grand County Emergency Medical Services, Bureau of Land Management, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle County Paramedics, Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Greater Eagle Fire Protection District, and Vail Mountain Rescue initially responded to the area due to the report being on the Grand / Eagle County line. Further reports from the scene received by a Garmin device reported that there had been a rafting accident and that bystander CPR was in progress on an adult male, who was later pronounced deceased by EMS personnel.
Additionally, there was another male subject who was still missing following the accident after the raft capsized. Emergency responders utilized additional rafts, ground crews, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and a Union Pacific Railroad Hi-Rail to search the river and surrounding area for the missing subject, however, were unable to locate him.
The deceased was a 56-year-old man from the Denver-Metro area who was transported to the Grand County Coroner’s Office and the identity, cause and manner of death will be released when appropriate. The missing person is identified as a 61-year-old male from the Denver-Metro area whose identity is not being released at this time, pending notification of his immediate family. Preliminary reports were that neither subject was wearing a personnel flotation device (PFD). A third individual from this group was able to safely exit the river and has been accounted for.
Bureau of Land Management River Rangers will be conducting additional searches on Sunday, June 2. Anyone rafting in the area is encouraged to be vigilant and call or text 911 with any additional information or sightings.
