A Specialist assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in an off-duty water-related mishap 12 June 2020 in Pueblo, Colorado, at 1200 local. A group of Soldiers were swimming in a local state park reservoir when one of them reportedly submerged underwater and did not resurface. His friends immediately notified emergency management services, park responders and their chain of command. The park service employed divers and sonar to locate the Soldier’s body. He was positively identified by the battalion commander. Alcohol use is unknown at this time.
Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of eight Soldiers a year to off-duty water-related mishaps. This tragedy was the third fatal off-duty water-related mishap of FY20 and below the number of off-duty water-related fatalities from this time last year. As the Army emerges from COVID-19, Soldiers must remember that risk management is critical on and off duty.