PUEBLO, Colo. — The search for a missing boater at Lake Pueblo State Park ended in heartbreak Saturday morning when Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers recovered the body of 52-year-old Manuel Raul Barraza of Pueblo West.
The tragedy began Friday afternoon when a small boat carrying two men and their family dog capsized near Pedro’s Point in rough water.
One man survived by swimming about 100 yards to shore and flagging down another boater for help. Barraza did not make it. The family dog was pulled from the lake Friday evening but did not survive.
What Happened in Those Critical Minutes
Witnesses and officials say the boat flipped suddenly around 12:48 p.m. in an area where water depths reach 40 to 50 feet.
The surviving boater, whose name has not been released, told officers the vessel took on water fast. He swam to shore while trying to keep sight of his friend and the dog.
A passing boater spotted the exhausted survivor waving his arms and immediately called 911 while rushing him to the South Marina.
Life jackets were on board but neither man was wearing one, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Bill Vogrin confirmed Saturday. That detail has hit the tight-knit Pueblo boating community especially hard.
Massive Search Through the Night
CPW marine emergency teams, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Dive Team, Colorado State Patrol, and UCHealth LifeLine helicopter searched through Friday afternoon and into the night.
Side-scan sonar, underwater drones, and patrol boats covered the area near Pedro’s Point. Officers worked in cold, windy conditions as water temperatures hovered in the low 60s.
Family members waited at the marina through the evening, hoping for good news that never came.
At approximately 9:30 a.m. Saturday, sonar located a body in about 45 feet of water. Divers recovered Barraza a short time later.
A Community in Mourning
Friends describe Manuel Barraza as a devoted father and avid outdoorsman who loved taking his dog out on the lake.
“He just wanted to enjoy a nice day on the water with his buddy and his pup,” one friend told reporters at the marina Saturday. “This one hurts bad.”
Saturday afternoon, small groups gathered near the boat ramp, some leaving flowers and saying quiet prayers.
The Reminder Every Boater Needs to Hear
Colorado recorded nine boating fatalities in 2024 before this incident, and CPW says eight of the nine victims were not wearing life jackets.
Officials stress that modern inflatable life jackets are comfortable enough to wear all day and automatically inflate on contact with water.
“Seconds matter when a boat capsizes,” said CPW Boating Safety Manager Grant Brown. “Wearing a life jacket turns a potential tragedy into a scary story instead of a fatal one.”
Quick safety checklist every Pueblo-area boater should follow:
- Wear your life jacket, don’t just carry it
- Check weather and wind forecasts (winds gusted over 25 mph Friday)
- File a float plan with family or friends
- Avoid alcohol on the water
- Carry a VHF radio or fully charged phone in a waterproof case
The loss of Manuel Barraza and his beloved dog has shaken southern Colorado’s boating community just as fall fishing season begins.
Many local boaters say they plan to double-check their life jackets and safety gear before heading out this week, some for the first time ever wearing them while underway.
