2 days ago
Family rescued from Arkansas River
(PUEBLO, Colo.)– A rescue was caught on camera in Pueblo County on Monday, June 9, when bystanders pulled three people out from the Arkansas River after their tube flipped at the Waterworks Park in the Steel City.
Multiple people have already drowned in Colorado this year, and on Monday, a family went under the rapids right in front FOX21's camera crew as reporter Carolynn Felling was about to interview the Pueblo Fire Department about water safety. The family went from enjoying a day on the river to struggling to stay afloat in a matter of seconds.
'You know, he could have lost his life. She could have lost her life, and her family,' said Rebecca Helbermin, a witness who saw the family go under.
It can happen to anyone in a moment.
'If she hadn't asked for help, she probably wouldn't have made it. She was yelling for help and then those guys came and tried to help,' said Helbermin.
The family almost lost their lives tubing down the Arkansas River at a popular water park in Pueblo.
'Nobody should be in the water today, especially with the flows that we have today,' said Tim Trujillo, Public Information Officer with the Pueblo Fire Department.
As the family made their way down a steep drop, their tube flipped and they went under, and the only one wearing a life jacket was a little boy.
'They were rescued by a bystander here on the river, they refused care, but it all goes back to understanding what's going on. Thankfully, there was someone here who had some experience in the water and was able to get in there and get them out,' said Trujillo.
The park is a popular spot for various water activities, but it can be extremely dangerous with high tides and fast currents.
'The little boy had a hard time even breathing and so did the father, my thought is if you're going down there you need to have protection,' said Helbermin.
The Pueblo Fire Department said the park is designed to spin you out of the current using large boulders to help separate the fast speeds.
'Everything here is engineered to kind of kick you out of that main wave, even to the outside, where this softer, slower water will bring you back up to where you started,' said Trujillo.
However, if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, the fire department said it's key not to panic. The cold shock when you fall or dive into the water can cause your muscles to cramp, making it difficult to swim.
'To us, that's the most important part is being prepared. This water's really cold, especially when you get it in your mouth and in your lungs, that shock effect locks us up a little bit,' said Trujilo.
The Edge in Pueblo offers life jackets for anyone interested in participating in water activities. Colorado law and Pueblo municipal code requires life jackets for all water activities, and you should always check water levels and speeds before making the trip. For more water safety tips click the link above.
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