Boulder Man Dies In Arkansas River

A Boulder man died after he fell into Arkansas River near Buena Vista River Park, the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office said. The 40-year-old man was found floating near the Wilderness Aware Center in Johnson Village late Saturday afternoon.

The man, identified as Michael Robert James, fell off his paddleboard and the intense river flow prevented him from getting back on, the sheriff's office said.

Boaters tried to rescue James after he fell, however he was swept downstream. Another boater tried multiple times to rescue him near Johnson Village, but was unsuccessful.

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Emergency responders arrived and worked with the boaters to pull his body out of the water. He was pronounced dead at 5:50 p.m.

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