Another water recreation death is under investigation in Colorado following an incident on Tuesday evening.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a man died last night during a trip down the Arkansas River north of Buena Vista. The man was traveling via a private kayak in a three-boat group at the time, with river water temperatures at a frigid 53 degrees and water levels high due to springtime run-off.

The initial call for help came in at about 5:30 p.m., with the caller reporting an accident in a very technical Class V section of rapids located below the Pine Creek access point.

One of the kayakers was reportedly working his way through the stretch of rapids when his boat became trapped in a “churning rapid” at the bottom of the Pine Creek Rapid. The boat eventually popped out of the rapid, with other members of the man’s group pulling him to shore and attempting to administer CPR.

Multiple emergency response teams were called to the scene, including Chaffee County Fire, Chaffee County EMS, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area staff.

Upon the arrival of emergency crews, continued attempts were made to resuscitate the man, though these were ultimately unsuccessful. The man was declared deceased at the scene.

A CPW spokesperson noted that all three kayakers involved in the incident were highly experienced in technical and challenging whitewater travel.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim,” said Tom Waters, AHRA park manager. “This appears to be a tragic accident.”

During this time of the year, cold water and high water levels make water travel particularly dangerous. The general public should strongly consider looking into traveling with a commercial company opposed to traveling alone. Traveling down a river without a professional guide, especially during this time of the year, should be reserved only for those with experience to safely do so. Always travel with other people to increase the likelihood that someone can help assist should something go wrong.

Always wear a life jacket when participating in activities that are in or in close proximity to water. A helmet can also increase safety and is crucial in whitewater activities.

If you’re interested in supporting Colorado’s volunteer-powered search and rescue operation, one way to do so is through the purchase of a CORSAR card. It’s cheap, at only $5 per year.