Wind gust knocks family off paddleboard, dad doesn’t resurface, CO officials say

A man’s body was found after he didn’t resurface while paddleboarding with his kids, Colorado officials said.

At about 4:30 p.m. July 7, Jefferson County deputies, West Metro and South Metro firefighters, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife personnel responded to a reservoir in Chatfield State Park in Littleton on reports of a missing paddleboarder, according to a news release by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Bystanders told officers the man was on a paddleboard with his two kids when a “large wind gust” threw them into the reservoir, officials said.

Onlookers were able to rescue the children, officials said.

Rescue dive teams were deployed and used sonar and an underwater drone to try and find the man, officials said.

His body was recovered about three hours after he went under, and he was not wearing a life jacket, officials said.

Wildlife officials urge the public to “always wear a life jacket” as “weather conditions can change quickly at the park with sudden, strong wind gusts.”

Littletonis about a 10-mile drive south from downtown Denver.

This story was originally published July 8, 2025 at 11:39 AM with the headline "Wind gust knocks family off paddleboard, dad doesn’t resurface, CO officials say."