Man identified in Gunnison River accident

MONTROSE  — The man who was found dead following a rafting accident was identified as Dr. Michael Dennington, according to the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office Sunday.

Dennington is a physician practicing medicine in the Aurora/Parker area and also owned a vacation home in the Gunnison area, according to the office’s news release.

Around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Gunnison County Emergency Services was notified of a rafting accident on the Gunnison River between McCabe’s Lane (Gunnison County Road 32) and Blue Mesa Lake, Gunnison County Sgt. Randy Barnes reported.

Dennington was with one other adult and three juveniles, when they were all ejected off a raft. It overturned after striking an island in the river, according to the release. The current carried the juveniles and an adult female about a half mile downstream before they were able to climb out of the river. Dennington’s body was later found about one and a half miles downstream from the accident.

The adult female and juveniles were treated for multiple abrasions, hypothermia and are recovering, according to the release.

Barnes said the accident is still under investigation and could not provide details as to the river’s cubic feet per second (cfs) or if the persons involved were wearing lifejackets. He said more information may be available today.