Woman falls onto pontoon boat propeller and dies on Colorado lake, officials say
A 43-year-old woman died after she fell from the back of a three-pontoon boat and onto the engine’s propeller on a Colorado lake, officials said.
The boat was taking off from a full stop when she fell, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email.
It happened about 4 p.m. near the north shore of Lake Pueblo near Denver Cove, officials said in a July 19 news release.
The boat had been tied alongside similar boats floating together with their engines off when the boat was powered from a full stop, officials said.
Someone called 911 for help, and park rangers and rescuers raced in a patrol boat to escort the pontoon carrying the woman to the North Shore Marina, officials said.
Medics from the Pueblo West Fire Department tried to resuscitate her, but the county coroner pronounced her dead at 5:14 p.m.
The circumstances of the incident are under investigation, officials said.
“CPW offers condolences to the family and friends of the victim and everyone involved in the incident,” Lake Pueblo State Park manager Joe Stadterman said in the release.
