A 24-year-old Fort Collins man reported missing after he went kayaking on Lon Hagler Reservoir west of Loveland was found dead Wednesday night, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
The man’s family reported him missing around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday after he did not return home from kayaking on the reservoir Tuesday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said in news release Thursday.
Search and rescue crews found his vehicle at the reservoir parking lot and later learned someone at the reservoir found an empty kayak on the shore late Tuesday night, reported it to Colorado Parks and Wildlife and took it home so it wouldn’t be stolen.
The man’s body was recovered from the water Wednesday night, according to the sheriff’s office. He did not have a life jacket with him.
His identity, cause and manner of death will be released by the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.
“Losing a loved one is never easy, and unexpected losses are especially hard,” Patrol Lt. Josh Fast said in a statement. “Multiple agencies worked together to find answers for the kayaker’s family. We’ll continue to support them in the difficult days ahead as they grieve the loss of this young man.”
Anyone who was at the reservoir Tuesday night who has not spoken with investigators can contact investigator Marcus Simelane at 970-498-5515.
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Originally Published: June 26, 2024 at 8:24 p.m.
