Raft flips on Roaring Fork, rescuers respond

BASALT — Pitkin County Sheriff’s deputies and Basalt Fire-Rescue responded to the Roaring Fork River near Wingo Junc­tion Saturday afternoon following a report of four rafters needing assis­tance after flipping their raft.

The incident occurred at about 5:22 p.m., according to a Basalt & Rural Fire Protection District press release.

Basalt Fire-Rescue was assisted by Carbondale fire’s Swiftwater Team dur­ing the rescue. Two rafters rescued themselves and were found on shore and unharmed. Another rafter was found on an island and required the services of the Swiftwater Rescue tech­nicians. That individual was moved from the island to shore unharmed.

Just as rescuers were finishing retrieving the rafter from the island, the fourth rafter was located just downval­ley of the Roaring Fork Club in Basalt. Rescuers managed to assist the rafter and lone occupant from the island without injury.

All four boaters were wearing prop­er safety equipment, according to the press release.

On Friday, a local man was knocked out of a raft during a guided trip on the Roaring Fork River. He was in the water for close to 40 minutes before members of Aspen’s and Snowmass’ swiftwater teams pulled him to shore.