Several individuals required assistance during a storm on Colorado’s Dillon Reservoir after winds reached speeds of 20 to 30 mph and waves reached 2-4 feet last week.
According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Department, deputies contacted multiple people on stand-up paddleboards before the storm hit, warning them of the impending weather and urging them to return to the shore as quickly as possible. Several paddlers were unaware of the coming weather change which eventually struck the lake hard.
Renters of one pontoon boat were left stranded after their craft was beached in shallow water after being pushed ashore by the strong winds. The occupants were retrieved by a dispatched vehicle and the boat was recovered hours later.
While responding to two stand-up paddleboarders stranded in the Heaton Bay area, deputies found another beached boat with 4 stranded passengers. Additionally a pontoon boat assisting the rescues experienced engine issues and caught fire, forcing deputies to respond with a fire extinguisher before towing the boat to the launch ramp.
While leaving the launch ramp, another man flagged down the deputies and informed them that, though he was able to paddle to shore, he had lost his canoeing son and daughter during the storm. Deputies conducted a search and located the two who were unharmed and not in need of assistance.
All rescues were successful and no injuries were reported during the storm.
