Nine boaters at Chatfield State Park in Littleton got an unexpected dunk on Sunday when their vessel capsized on the busy reservoir. Nearby boaters rushed over, pulled all nine from the water, and kept them safe while emergency crews headed in. Everyone on board had a life jacket on, a detail officials say likely made the self-rescue a success instead of a tragedy.
South Metro Fire Rescue and Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded after getting calls from the reservoir, and other boaters ferried the group back to shore, according to KDVR. A SMFR dive team was sent in to recover the sunken boat, which was believed to be resting in about 18 feet of water, with only around four inches of the hull still poking above the surface.
Scene and safety reminders
Chatfield ranks as one of the Denver metro area’s go-to summer reservoirs, which also means it can turn dangerous in a hurry when the wind kicks up or storms roll through. Colorado Parks and Wildlife notes that state law requires every vessel to have properly sized life jackets readily accessible for each person on board, and officials urge boaters to double-check weather forecasts and weight limits before heading out.
Not the first close call this season
This latest capsize is one in a string of incidents on Chatfield this season. In May, a sailboat went over on the reservoir, prompting a separate rescue operation, according to the Denver Gazette. Rangers and safety officials keep repeating the same advice: wear life jackets, keep an eye on the sky, and do not head out alone when the winds start to build.
Investigators and dive crews stayed on scene as recovery efforts continued, and officials did not immediately release additional information about the boat or its owner, KDVR reported. With a holiday weekend on the horizon, park staff and Colorado Parks and Wildlife again leaned on familiar talking points about basic boating safety at the popular reservoir.
