A 61-year-old man who died while rafting Saturday morning on the Animas River was identified as Patrick Southworth of Ballston Lake, New York.
Patti Southworth, the victim’s wife, was taken in stable condition to Mercy Regional Medical Center, said Cmdr. Ray Shupe with the Durango Police Department. Efforts to contact Mercy to check on her condition were unsuccessful on Sunday. Shupe did not have Patti Southworth’s age.
A call seeking assistance for an overturned raft came about 10:05 a.m. Shupe said.
The raft, from Mountain Waters Rafting, was carrying five people – the Southworths, another couple and a rafting guide.
The raft overturned in Smelter Rapid, and the five occupants, all of whom were wearing personal-flotation devices, were sent into the river.
Three of the four paying customers were retrieved from the river near where the raft overturned, and the guide swam down the river after Patrick Southworth.
Witnesses said Patrick Southworth was seen floating down river face down, and he never appeared to right himself, Shupe said.
It is unclear if he had been knocked unconscious, Shupe said.
The guide and police administered CPR on Southworth once he had been brought to the river bank, about where the river parallels Nature’s Oasis.
Police also used an automatic external defibrillator, an AED, on Southworth, at the scene, but they were unable to revive him.
Emergency medical technicians from Durango Fire Protection District took over life-saving procedures when they arrived.
Southworth was transported to Mercy Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Shupe said.
La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith said an autopsy to determine cause of death is scheduled for Wednesday.
Shupe said he believes the Southworths were working in Arizona as traveling pharmacists, and they had come to Durango for a weekend visit.
[email protected] This story has been updated to correct the Southworths’ hometown, which is Ballston Lake, N.Y.
Reader Comments