A family of six from Texas was pulled alive from the roiling Arkansas River in Chaffee County today, according to the county sheriff’s office.
The county has seen five deaths this year related to the river, engorged with fast-flowing runoff from the abundant snowpack.
Four rafters have died on the river in Chaffee County in the past week, and a Littleton woman fell off a horse and into the river in May, causing her death.
Authorities today identified the most recent river fatality in Chaffee County as Marcus Martin, 43, of Castle Rock, who died after his guided raft flipped near Salida.
Drownings and river rescues have been frequent across the state this year, with at least a dozen known fatalities. Authorities on Monday called off a search in Eagle County for a Nebraska woman who fell into Beaver Creek on Friday and is presumed dead.
Chaffee County Sheriff Tim Walker has urged rafters to use extreme caution, if not avoid the high, fast water altogether. He said people should take “personal responsibility” for their own safety.
The six-member Thompson family and their guide from Canyon Marine Whitewater Rafting Co. in Poncha Springs were in the water at about 2:30 p.m. today when their raft capsized about 3 miles east of Salida.
Stephen Thompson, 30, made it to shore and up to U.S. 50 to flag down a motorist, who called 911.
Everyone made it out of the water alive, but the entire rafting party was taken to Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center in Salida.
