South Metro Water Rescue

On May 2nd, 2021 at approximately 11:45 South Metro Fire Rescue was dispatched to a water rescue in the Cherry Creek Reservoir, near the East Shades Parking Area in the Cherry Creek State Park. Dispatch advised that a man and a dog in a kayak overturned on the lake and did not come up. At the time of the incident a strong storm created gusty winds and rough water. Firefighters and rangers arrived on scene and established a last point of sight from witnesses. Firefighters put divers in the water, rangers searched the surface by boat and South Metro’s Incident Dispatch Team searched from the air with a drone. An inflatable kayak was located but no signs of the occupant or the dog were initially found. After about two hours, firefighters called off the rescue operation and turned the recovery operation over to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. CPW’s Marine Evidence Recovery Team brought in a boat equipped with sonar, lights and a video camera to assist with the operation. The victim was found under 15 feet of water about 15:40.

Units on Scene:

South Metro: District Chief 1, Battalion Chief 3, Battalion Chief 4, Safety 10, Safety 35, Engine 21, Engine 42, Medic 15, Medic 21, Medic 221, Medic 31, Dive 16, Dive 31 & PIO 13

South Metro Fire Emergency Communications: IDT 2 & IDT11

Colorado Parks and Wildlife: CCSP Rangers & CPW Marine Evidence Recovery Team

Arapahoe County Sheriff & ACSO Community Service