A water rescue team from Colorado Parks and Wildlife recovered a body from Rampart Reservoir on Aug. 24, according to a news release from the state agency.

The family identified the deceased as Otis Forrest Jr. Forrest leaves behind a girlfriend and two rescue dogs, according to a GoFundMe page.

“Otis was a bright light in this world — always beaming with happiness and kindness. He was tall, athletic, handsome, free-spirited, risky, loving, creative, and had no sense of time! He would get there when he got there! You couldn’t possibly be upset with him when he walked in the door donning that big, charming smile,” his family wrote on the page.

The recovery came following an hours-long effort, initiated Aug. 23, to find Forrest, who fell into the water while paddleboarding and failed to resurface.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department took the initial emergency call after witnesses saw Forrest fall from his paddleboard, CPW officials said.

A dog was able to stay on the paddleboard and eventually swam to shore.

The Fire Department immediately began searching, deploying a helicopter and drone, before calling CPW’s marine recovery team to assist.

Parks and Wildlife personnel, equipped with lights, a camera and sonar equipment, began searching at about 7 p.m., the release stated. Team members found the body, submerged more than 60 feet deep, at about 1 a.m. Rangers pulled the body from the water about an hour later.

The El Paso County Coroner’s Office will officially identify the victim, determine the cause of death and notify next of kin, wildlife officials said.

“We’ve experienced far too many water deaths in Colorado,” said CPW boating safety program manager Grant Brown. “We urge everyone on or near the water to please wear a life jacket.”

Cold water draws warmth away from the body much faster than cold air, according to the National Weather Service website.

Sudden immersion can cause near-immediate shock. The water in Rampart Reservoir was 62 degrees on Saturday, CPW said.

“When someone is plunged into such cold water, the shock from cold water immersion can cause your entire body to cramp leaving you unable to swim,” Brown said. “You can die in one or two minutes.”

More than 30 recreational drownings have occurred in Colorado so far in 2024, according to the news release.