Grand County’s sixth life jacket loaner station has been added at Williams Fork Reservoir.
Photo courtesy of Grand County Sheriff’s Office
A partnership between the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Denver Water Department and the Christopher Mullinex Water Rescue Foundation has added a life jacket loaner station to Williams Fork Reservoir, bringing the total to six stations around the lake in Grand County.
Other rental stations are located at Grand Lake Town Beach, Hilltop Boat Ramp on Grand Lake, Stillwater Boat Ramp on Lake Granby, Sunset Point Boat Ramp on Lake Granby, Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains Ponds in Granby and Williams Fork Reservoir near the East Boat Ramp.
Personal flotation devices, also known as life jackets, are a critical component of water safety, especially in Grand County where the water temperatures are cold most of the year.
The Christopher Mullinex Water Rescue Foundation was established following a tragic incident on Lake Granby nine years ago. On July 3, 2015, Mullinex drowned after diving into Lake Granby on an otherwise ordinary, pleasant summer afternoon.
Christopher never resurfaced, and his body was recovered after three days of searching and waiting for help from outside the county. A lack of trained rescue personnel delayed the discovery of Christopher’s body.
As the parents grieved the loss of their son, Dee and Rick Mullinex wanted to make sure no other family in Grand County had to go through the same experience.
In the wake of this tragic incident, a foundation was established whose primary mission is to provide water safety equipment, training and public education to help people enjoy Grand County’s lakes and get home safely.
Headwaters Water Rescue Authority was then formed in 2021 to create a countywide, multi-agency organization to respond to water rescue emergencies throughout Grand County.
A press release from the sheriff’s office said the rescue authority is “urgently requesting assistance from local residents to help raise funds to purchase a new rescue boat.” Donations can be mailed to Headwaters Rescue Authority, Grand Fire Protection District No. 1, PO Box 338, Granby, CO 80446.
“The addition of a new rescue vessel through Headwaters Water Rescue Agency will enable our emergency personnel to respond to water emergencies with the same care and compassion as other types of emergencies,” Sheriff Brett Schroetlin said.
