SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. — The search for a 68-year-old man who went missing after going overboard in Dillon Reservoir on Saturday is over after his body was found, the Summit County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) said.
According to a release from SCSO, a storm cell producing winds over 40 miles per hour and four-foot waves blew in causing multiple boats to capsize. The Dillon Yacht Club's Peak One Regatta had just finished, and the boats were trying to return to Dillon Marina.
A 21-foot racing sailboat was traveling downwind toward the marina and performed a maneuver to change course, SCSO said. During the maneuver, the boat lost control and tipped over, causing the captain to fall overboard. He was not wearing his personal flotation device at the time, according to SCSO.
The boat then collided with a race committee boat that was moored to a buoy, SCSO said. Boats in the area immediately began searching for the captain.
An extensive search of the water and shore involving SCSO, Summit County Rescue Group, the Summit County Water Rescue Team, the Dillon Police Department, Dillon and Frisco marinas, Dillon Yacht Club boats, fishing guides, Summit Water Taxi and Flight for Life began Saturday.
The search continued throughout the day Saturday with the help of water search dogs, underwater sonar and an underwater remote-operated vehicle (ROV), SCSO said. The search was suspended at 11 p.m. due to storms with high winds.
The search resumed early Sunday, but the focus shifted to a body recovery, SCSO said. Two water search dogs, underwater sonar, and ROVs were deployed, and at around 3:30 p.m. an ROV found the man's body in approximately 180 feet of water. SCSO, the Summit County Water Rescue Team and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Marine Evidence Recovery Team all participated in the recovery effort.
The man's body was recovered at 5 p.m. and turned over to the Summit County coroner. The man's identity is being withheld until family has been notified. The coroner will determine the cause and manner of death.
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