LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The body of a paddleboarder has recovered from Big Soda Lake at Bear Creek Lake Park on Sunday has been identified, Jefferson County Coroner's Office said on Monday.
The victim was identified as Derek Eugene Hawkins, 24, of Aurora after an autopsy, and the coroner's office said the cause and manner of death are pending further investigation and lab results.
Dive teams started searching for a missing person thought to be in the water about 3 p.m. Saturday, according to West Metro Fire Rescue.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the recovery mission turned into an overnight search, and the paddleboarder's body was found by the Marine Evidence Recovery Team (MER). Using a towfish sonar unit, MER was able to find the victim and then use a remotely operated vehicle to recover them from the lake.
South Metro Fire Rescue also helped with the search effort on Saturday.
West Metro later tweeted an update, saying the effort had become a recovery operation.
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