MONTROSE — Father's Day turned tragic when an 11-year-old boy drowned in the Uncompahgre River during a family outing.
Brandon Gomez was the second child in two years to die after becoming ensnared on debris near the bike path bridge off of Rio Grand Avenue/West Oak Grove Road.
|
Advertisement |
According to sheriff's reports, a man in the party floated around a bend and noticed Gomez entangled on the limbs of a submerged tree. He tried frantically to free him.
"He attempted, I think, three times and was finally able to get him untangled," Walters said. "They attempted to resuscitate him until the ambulance crew arrived."
Two witnesses, an adult and a juvenile, also tried to help; Walters said it appeared as though one of them called 911.
Brandon was wearing a life vest and also traveling with a group; important safety precautions, Walters said. "Accidents can truly happen," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family."
Walters said the child was taken to the hospital, but died.
Montrose County Coroner Dr. Thomas Canfield said cause of death was pending autopsy results, but the circumstances were consistent with drowning. Gomez was resuscitated but pronounced dead at the hospital, he said.
Canfield said that because there is a chance a person can survive a cold-water drowning, resuscitation should always be attempted.
The Uncompahgre was flowing swift, because of spring runoff, Walters said, but he did not know how deep the river was at the accident site, nor how long Gomez was thought to have been underwater.
The accident occurred approximately a quarter-mile south of the bike path bridge, near the scene of the 2005 accident that claimed Collin Free, also 11. Free became entangled on a logjam directly beneath the bridge while tubing with family members. Several witnesses helped free him, but he was comatose and was taken off life support three weeks later.
"A lot of people tube that river. There have been other (accidents)," the undersheriff said. "It's rough. I can't even imagine."
Contact Katharhynn Heidelberg via e-mail at katharhynnh@montrosepress.com
• Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story.
• Be relevant. Keep your comments on point.
• See the guidelines for TalkAbout. Perhaps your comment is best for that community forum, available from the home page, instead of commenting on a particular story.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. Montrose Press is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in montrosepress.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Montrose Press. Montrose Press does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Montrose Press spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!