Fort Collins Waterway Death

A toddler has died after being rescued from a Fort Collins area waterway. 

Just before 6 p.m. on June 2, 2026, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Poudre Fire Authority, and UCHealth EMS responded to reports of a child falling into an active irrigation ditch. The ditch, which runs behind homes in the 3100 block of N County Road 19, is fed by the Cache la Poudre River. 

PFA swiftwater technicians began searching the water, but a neighbor quickly found the child downstream and began performing CPR. UCHealth EMS transported the child to an area hospital. Sadly, he did not survive. 

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office is working to determine exactly what happened. The LCSO Victim Response Team and Chaplain will continue providing ongoing support for the victim’s family and neighbors who assisted during this tragic incident. The Larimer County Coroner will release the child’s name, as well as cause and manner of death, at a later time.

“This is a really tough one. Sudden loss is never easy, but losing a child is especially hard,” said Undersheriff Joe Shellhammer. “Our hearts are heavy today for this family and everyone who knew this little boy.”

Anyone who witnessed this incident, who has not already spoken to law enforcement, is asked to contact LCSO Investigator Marcus Simelane at 970-498-5515.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by the death of a child, local resources are available in our community. 3Hopeful Hearts provides grief-informed support to empower and equip those impacted by the death of a baby or child of any age, while increasing grief literacy in our larger community. Learn more at https://www.3hopefulhearts.com/