Two people are dead and another is hospitalized after three kayaks were swamped by high winds and waves on Lake Pueblo Sunday, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said it responded to a call for help at 3:23 p.m. Witnesses said 35 to 45 mph wind gusts capsized a kayak carrying an adult and a child, according to the release. Two more kayaks — each carrying an adult — tried to help but were both capsized and were swamped along the north shore of the lake inside Lake Pueblo State Park.
Two adults died and a child was airlifted to a hospital in Colorado Springs, the statement said.
“This is another heartbreaking tragedy and we send our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of these victims,” park manager Joe Stadterman said in a news release. “We continue to urge everyone to pay close attention to weather conditions and to wear life jackets when they are on or near the water so we can avoid future tragedies like today.”
Because of dangerous high winds Sunday, park rangers were not able to search by boat, and instead searched for the missing adult from the shore and with an underwater drone, the agency said in a statement.
These were the seventh and eighth water-related deaths this year at Lake Pueblo.
Both of the deceased were turned over to the Pueblo County coroner to determine the exact cause of death, be identified and notify the victims’ families.
