A man is believed to have drowned at Colorado’s Lake Pueblo State Park, reportedly attempting to help children swimming in rough waters at the time of his death.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a 53-year-old was found deceased on Sailboard Beach on the afternoon of May 14. Park visitors report seeing the man going into the water to help the children, not wearing a life jacket at the time. Strong winds were present and the water temperature was quite cold – in the upper 50s.

A call for help related to the situation was received at 2:45 p.m., and despite 40 minutes of work to resuscitate the man, those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Two of the children the man was attempting to save were his own children and two were friends. All of the kids survived the incident and are safely with their respective guardians, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The man’s body was given to the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office for identification and an official determination of the man’s cause of death.

“CPW offers condolences to the family and friends of the victim and everyone involved in the incident,” said Becky Buist, Operations Manager at Lake Pueblo State Park.

This situation highlights the importance of wearing a life jacket. Cold water can result in something called cold water shock, with water temperatures in the 50 to 60-degree range are fully capable of resulting in this condition – sometimes even warmer temps, as well. Once cold water shock sets in, it can result in potentially fatal changes in the ability to breath, also impacting heart rate and blood pressure in a dangerous way. This culminates in an increased risk of drowning.

Colorado’s waters are quite cold, with Colorado Parks and Wildlife noting that water temperatures below 68 degrees can be dangerous.

Condolences go out to all of those involved in this tragic situation.

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