GRAND COUNTY, Colo. — The body of a man who went missing after a rafting accident on the Colorado River in June 2024 was recovered nearly a year later, authorities confirmed.
The Grand County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) reported that on June 1, 2024, their communications center received a 911 text at approximately 3:40 p.m. reporting an unresponsive individual in the Colorado River near Gore Canyon, located southwest of Kremmling. Responders quickly learned that a raft had capsized, sending three people into the water.
First responders, including Grand County Search and Rescue, Grand County EMS, and the Bureau of Land Management, were dispatched to the scene, which lies on the border between Grand and Eagle counties. Upon arrival, a bystander was performing CPR on one man, later identified as Brent Boulder, 56, of Aurora. Boulder was transported for medical treatment but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The second man, identified as Thomas Russell, 61, of Littleton, was reported missing. The third individual involved in the incident safely exited the river and was accounted for, though it remains unclear if that person was wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Authorities noted that neither Boulder nor Russell were wearing PFDs at the time of the accident.
Despite extensive search efforts using rafts, ground crews, and drones, Russell’s whereabouts remained unknown. Search and rescue operations continued into June 2 but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Nearly one year later, on May 21, 2025, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office notified Grand County authorities that a body had been found in the Colorado River near Rancho Del Rio. Following a significant drop in river water levels, the body was recovered and subsequently identified by the Grand County Coroner’s Office through dental records as Thomas Russell. His next of kin have been notified.
This incident underscores the inherent risks of rafting in challenging conditions, particularly when safety equipment such as PFDs are not worn.
