Body of missing Fort Collins man recovered from Poudre River

Laura Studley
July 25, 2019

The body of a kayaker who went missing in late June was discovered at 5 p.m. on July 23.

The kayaker was identified as 57-year-old David L. Smith. Smith was found in the Poudre River near mile marker 112 on Highway 14. He was last seen on Saturday, June 29.

Smith, along with two other rafters, were in the Poudre River after their single-chamber inflatable raft was swept out from underneath them between mile markers 107 and 108 on Highway 14 on June 29. Two of the rafters were able to make it to safety. However, the third was separated from the group.

Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services, deputies, investigators, Larimer County Dive Rescue Team, United States Forest Service, UCHealth and the Larimer County Coroner’s Office responded to the report of the discovery, but the search was called off on June 30.

The LCSO encourages river safety, especially during the summer when the water levels are high. For more information on safety tips, visit their website.

Laura Studley can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @laurastudley_.

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