DURANGO, Colo. (AP) - The body of a man was found over the weekend after his empty canoe was discovered on a lake in southern Colorado on Friday, authorities said.
The Marine Evidence Recovery Team of Colorado Parks and Wildlife discovered the body under 36 feet (11 meters) of water at Lake Nighthorse south of Durango around 11 p.m. Saturday, the Durango Herald reported. The team was called in to assist in the search after an empty canoe was reported floating on the lake Friday around 7 p.m.
The body was identified as Andrew Ward, 60, who was last seen by himself at the boat launch Friday at 1:30 p.m., authorities said.
“We don’t know what led him to be out of the canoe, and we don’t know when he exited the canoe. He was not wearing a life jacket,” Durango Police Sgt. Nick Stasi said, adding that it did not appear the canoe had capsized.
The cause of death has not been determined but an autopsy is expected to be performed next week, La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith said.
Multiple local, state and federal agencies assisted in the search, Stasi said. Flight For Life and the U.S. Forest Service provided search helicopters.
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