WELLINGTON, Colo.—The Larimer County coroner’s office has identified a man who drowned near Wellington as 43-year-old Bruce Ritts.
Deputy Coroner Greg Fairman says Ritts died Friday when his canoe tipped over as he was trying to install a water gauge in Mattingly Reservoir.
The Coloradoan reports that he did not know how to swim, and was not wearing a life jacket.
Ritts’ wife went to the reservoir to search for him after he failed to return home Friday night. Authorities say she called 911 after finding a capsized canoe in the water.
Divers later found Ritts next to the canoe, about 30 feet from the shore, in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Coroner’s officials have ruled his death an accident.
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Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan,
