CPW officers recognized for life-saving response after boating accident at Chatfield State Park

LITTLETON, Colo. (KRDO) -- Six Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers were recognized Friday for their life-saving response to a serious boating accident at Chatfield State Park in July.

South Metro Fire Rescue first responders and AdventHealth staff presented the officers with certificates and SMFR challenge coins during a recognition ceremony Friday afternoon. AdventHealth also awarded the officers Trauma Hero plaques for their actions during the emergency, says CPW.

The officers recognized were Seasonal Park Officer Danny Brown, Park Officer Kennedy Miller, Park Manager Ben Vinci, Park Resource Technician Tyler Clark, Seasonal Park Officer Catherine Staley and Seasonal Boating Assistant Tyler Sagar.

According to officials, the incident happened July 11 on Chatfield Reservoir, when officers responded to a boat carrying a man who had suffered a severe leg injury after his leg was amputated below the knee by a boat propeller.

CPW says Clark and Staley used a CPW patrol vessel to escort the boat back to the marina. Miller and Brown applied multiple tourniquets to the man's leg to control the bleeding and prevent further blood loss.

Vinci assisted with patient care at the marina, while Sagar secured the boat for the investigation.

Once South Metro Fire Rescue and West Metro Fire responders arrived, the victim was taken to AdventHealth Littleton for additional treatment. According to CPW, the man is continuing rehabilitation and is making good progress in his recovery.

“We are incredibly proud of our team’s swift and decisive actions in a critical moment,” CPW Deputy Region Manager Scott Roush said. “Their dedication to serving the public and their commitment to safety truly made a life-saving difference, and we wish the victim a smooth recovery.”

The certificates presented to the officers recognized their role in the man's survival, saying their actions “played an instrumental role in the patient's survival.”

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