Coroner IDs kayaker who drowned in Arkansas River

Authorities have released the name of a kayaker whose body was pulled from the Arkansas River north of Buena Vista.

Chaffee County Coroner Randy Amettis identified the victim Tuesday as 54-year-old William A. Forshey, of Austin. His death has been ruled a drowning.

The sheriff’s office says Forshey became high-centered on a large rock in the Miracle Mile section of the river at about noon Monday. He stepped out of the boat, and witnesses say they saw him standing on the shoreline.

Forshey was spotted a short time later floating downriver.

Undersheriff John Spezze says the man was pronounced dead at the scene. He did not say how he ended up back in the water after making it to shore.