The body found in Boulder Reservoir has been identified by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office as 46-year-old Mark M. Heffron.
Around 6:25 a.m. Wednesday morning, the body of a white male was discovered in Boulder Reservoir, according to the Boulder Police Department�s blotter.
�We responded out to the reservoir at around 6:20 a.m. this morning,� said Sarah Huntley, Boulder Police Department Public Information Officer. �A coach with the CU rowing team was out there for practice and saw a body floating in the reservoir.�
Huntley said that when the EMT�s arrived they were able to walk out onto the dock and pull the body ashore from there.
Heffron was announced dead on the scene.
According to a Boulder County Coroner�s Office news release, an autopsy is scheduled for today and no foul play is suspected.
Alexis Bridenbaugh, a 19-year-old sophomore broadcast news and film major, said she has been a member of the CU women�s crew team since last semester and that she and her teammates were “freaked out” at this morning�s finding.
�We were getting ready to put our boats in the water to start practice,� Bridenbaugh said. �Our coach told us something happened and not to worry. During practice I saw firemen and ambulances, we didn�t find out until after.�
Bridenbaugh said she was happy she didn�t see the body herself.
�I was scared when we found out,� she said. �It was really weird and gross. I�m glad we didn�t see it.�
Chris Atkinson, a 20-year-old freshman pre-journalism major and member of the male crew team, said he saw an ambulance, a couple fire trucks and people standing by a boat during practice.
�I didn�t even hear the coach say it,� Atkinson said. �It�s a little disturbing to think we were rowing in that water.�
Bridenbaugh said that despite the awful circumstances under which practice began this morning, the crew team is still practicing tomorrow.
�We will definitely have practice tomorrow,� she said. �If the reservoir is open, we�ll practice.�
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sarah Simmons at [email protected]. and CU Independent Opinion Editor Ellie Bean at [email protected].
