A 21-year-old unidentified Denver-area man’s kayaking trip turned fatal after his kayak capsized on Lake Granby in Grand County, Colorado. The incident occurred early on the morning of December 3, 2023, while he was kayaking with a friend across the lake’s open waters.
The tragedy unfolded when the man and his friend, who had spent the previous night on Deer Island, attempted to kayak back to shore. High winds caused the kayak to overturn, plunging him into the cold waters of Lake Granby. Despite his friend’s efforts, he was unable to rescue him, leading to the man’s disappearance beneath the surface. It was noted that the victim was not wearing a personal flotation device at the time of the accident.
The friend, managing to get back to shore, called 911 around 6:45 a.m. to report the incident. Emergency responders, including the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, medical and fire teams, Colorado Parks and Wildlife personnel, and staff from the Beacon Landing Marina, quickly mobilized to launch a search and rescue operation. Their efforts were severely hampered by extreme weather conditions, including heavy snowfall, strong winds, and near-zero visibility, which led to the suspension of the search around 2 p.m. that day.
The search operation, which included multiple agencies, resumed the next day under more favorable weather conditions. Using specialized equipment and an underwater remotely operated vehicle, search teams located the kayaker’s body at the bottom of Lake Granby around 7:30 p.m. on December 4.
The Grand County Coroner’s Office is tasked with determining the cause and manner of the death. In light of this incident and several other water-related emergencies in recent years, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office issued a reminder about the importance of safety equipment and preparedness for changing weather conditions while engaging in water activities.