Man Drowns During Boat Launch at Prewitt Reservoir

A person drowned at Prewitt Reservoir near Merino, Colorado, on Tuesday afternoon (July 8^th), as first responders were dispatched to the area at 1:12 pm. Several agencies arrived at the incident, as witnesses reported that a man trying to swim out to a boat that he and another man had just launched, struggled to stay above water, then went under without resurfacing. The other man in the boat was drifting out, and he jumped in to help the first man, but struggled as well. The second man was rescued, but the first man wasn’t.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife confirmed that neither man was wearing a life jacket when they entered the water. The Sterling Fire Department’s dive team searched the area where the first man was last seen, as the Logan County Sheriff’s Office deployed aerial surveillance drones to aid in the search.

According to the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Service, at about 3:15 pm, the body of the first man was recovered by the Sterling Fire Department divers. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, as his identity has not been released. The incident is under investigation.

The Sterling Fire Department sent their condolences to the man’s family & friends and thanked all the responding agencies. Colorado Parks & Wildlife and the Sterling Fire Department were assisted by Merino Fire, Hillrose Fire, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Colorado State Patrol.