Three juvenile males were rescued Tuesday morning after the sailboat they were on capsized in heavy wind.
The incident occurred about 11:35 a.m., said Amanda Garrison, Durango police department spokesperson. The boys were able to rightsize the boat several times, but heavy winds eventually overcame them, Garrison said.
“They did the absolute right thing by clinging to the boat on the bottom side as it was capsized,” she said.
A Durango Police Department sergeant, along with the City of Durango Parks and Recreation, responded on the city’s boat and were able to retrieve all three boys, all of whom were uninjured, Garrison said.
The sailboat was towed back to shore with the assistance of a sailboat instructor. Garrison said all responding parties “acted heroically” and ensured the boys were safely brought back to shore.
All three boys were wearing life vests, she said.
An especially windy June has caused Red Flag Warnings to be issued across Southwest Colorado.
Visit Durango recommends boaters take several safety measures before going out on any body of water in the area, including wearing a life jacket that fits a sailor’s height and weight, wearing anti-slip shoes, checking equipment before launching, obeying posted speed limits and being aware of other boats in the area.
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