Man’s body recovered from Headgate Dam

UPDATE: The body of a man who drowned in the Colorado River in Parker last weekend has been recovered from Headgate Dam. The man’s body was found at the dam at around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday after a weekend of recovery attempts by divers.

ORIGINAL STORY:

A man who disappeared into the river and did not resurface was being searched for by divers Saturday morning.

The man was reportedly on a boat outing with his family floating near BlueWater Resort & Casino on Friday evening when around 6:30 p.m. he went into the water and was struggling to come to the surface. He was unable to swim to safety and, according to reports, made brief contact with the hands of family members trying to reach him before disappearing in the current.

La Paz County Sheriff’s Department Captain Curt Bagby, with the permission of CRIT Police Chief John Morris, confirmed the incident and said that divers are looking for the man.

“We will not be talking about the identity of the man at this point,” Bagby told Parker Live. “Divers went down [Friday night] but it’s close to Headgate Dam and there are strong currents that are very unsafe for divers. They’re back this morning and in the water as we speak, using special equipment to search. They haven’t had any success at this point.”

The area is generally sandy, but proximity to Headgate Dam means the dam is a focus of the search.

This incident is not related to reports last weekend of a man who entered the water at Roadrunner Bar and was not seen by the same witnesses exiting the water. Those reports were not confirmed and no missing persons reports were filed.

30 comments

  1. Iola Swick

    There is a dangerous undertow in that part of the river.

  2. Misty Fears

    ????????????????????????

  3. Thomas Lake

    Rachel-Marie Jane is this recent or last weekend??

  4. Parker Live

    Thomas Lake This is just last night.

  5. Thomas Lake

    Anything on last Sunday by road runner?

  6. Hunni Bee

    I was wondering why the helicopter was circling in that area.

  7. John Wright

    Thomas Lake It’s at the link. There was never a person reported missing, just some witnesses who didn’t see someone get out.

  8. Katherine Wheatley

    Stephanie Dunlap I just tagged you in the one I shared. ????????

  9. Yes this happened just last evening as I was walking my dogs at the marina at blue water. Very tragic and this family was still along the shoreline this morning between the marina and the damn west of blue water as the helicopter was circling literally for hours and I guess the divers moved down stream. I recognized John Walker with the La Paz Sheriff’s dept in swim trunks and life vest. I love that guy. I believe he was out there on a jet ski searching the area. I haven’t heard the helicopter now for over an hour so possibly the search is over. I want to believe the missing man, though injured was found alive! This mans family obviously very distraught, yet still out there looking themselves, I’m sure have been praying for the same!

  10. Cassandra Ryan Umphlett

    We were there at Roadrunner we saw the whole thing go down last weekend. Ask the security guard at Roadrunner he was the one who called the sheriff’s department when that guy went in the water he was the one saying he is part of their dive team and didn’t bring his equipment and he would hope that he did not have use it that night. There was almost the whole bar watching it go down a girl was running around trying to find someone with a boat to go and get the guy and a boat did go through find him the sheriff’s boat pulled up minutes later. The security guard was on the phone again with the sheriff’s department and said that they were able to find one person. And my group alone there was five of us and three of the five don’t drink and we’re dead sober and we know what we saw

  11. Debra Divine

    Is the water cold here ? Fast water? ????????????

  12. Tammie Cardella

    Debra Divine it’s still cold like every where right now since the weather is still cold. No it slows to like a large area (pools) My question is why didn’t he have a life jacket on? There is a sand bar right by there.

  13. John Wright

    Tammie The vast majority of adults don’t wear lifejackets as a matter of course. They are only required for children on board.

  14. John Wright

    Cassandra Nobody is denying what you saw. But nobody is reported missing and there’s no evidence that somebody actually drowned.

  15. Tammie Cardella

    John Wright thank you. I’m a boat owner and have a house in Parker. Sad thing is that there are a lot of adults that are not good swimmers and drink and dont use them. No shame in using one for sure. I do!

  16. John Wright

    Tammie Cardella Yes it’s definitely a good idea

  17. Tammie Cardella

    John Wright #safetyfirst

  18. Candi Evans-Alauria

    there must be enough life jackets for everyone on any boat. Only children are required to have them on.

  19. Candi Evans-Alauria

    there must be enough life jackets for everyone on any boat. Only children are required to have them on.

  20. 2 people jumped in the water last weekend. Most people on the roadrunner dock saw one person make it to the CA side.

  21. They still haven’t found the blue water casino area drowning victim. I guess the flood gates were open and rescue personnel had commented that he could be ten miles down stream by now. I keep praying that they’ll find him alive.

    Yesterday ( Saturday) I was told by a reliable source someone died at the blue water casino pool. Any one heard any details about that?

    Everyday we are here is a blessing!

  22. Trish Crossman

    Parker Live so sad please keep us updated ..thank you

  23. Barbara Fierro

    Any updates on this article?

  24. Parker Live

    UPDATE: The body of a man who drowned in the Colorado River in Parker last weekend has been recovered from Headgate Dam. The man’s body was found at the dam at around 6:30 a.m. after a weekend of recovery attempts by divers.

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