Rafter dies after falling into Roaring Fork River near Aspen

Authorities say a rafter died after he fell into the Roaring Fork River near Aspen.

The Aspen Daily News reports the man, whose name has not been released, was with five other rafters and a commercial guide when he fell into the rapids near Slaughterhouse Falls on Wednesday morning. Alex Burchetta, a spokesman for the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, says the man fell out of the boat, was pulled back in, but again fell back into the river.

He was eventually recovered, but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

The area is popular because of the class-IV Slaughterhouse Falls and class III rapids that continue downriver from there.

Burchetta says the man appears to be about 50 years old and is not from the area.

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Information from: Aspen Daily News, http://www.aspendailynews.com