Paddle boarder drowns after microburst blows him into lake, Colorado sheriff says

A paddle boarder drowned on Dillon Reservoir after a microburst knocked him off his board into the lake, Colorado sheriff’s officials say.

A group of paddle boarders tried to outrun an oncoming storm and return to a marina when waves, wind and rain separated them about 2 p.m. Saturday, July 16, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

A microburst, or a localized downdraft within a thunderstorm, blew the man off his board, the release said.

He was not wearing a life jacket and could not reach the one strapped to his paddleboard, sheriff’s officials said. He was unable to keep his head above water.

Deputies recovered the man’s body about 8:20 p.m. Saturday after a search involving sonar and remote operating vehicles, a second news release said. He was found in 60 feet of water about 100 yards from shore.

The man and his friends had come to the reservoir from the Front Range, sheriff’s officials said.

Dillon Reservoir is about 70 miles west of Denver.

This story was originally published July 17, 2022 at 10:44 AM with the headline "Paddle boarder drowns after microburst blows him into lake, Colorado sheriff says."