The man who was discovered in the Animas River on Thursday and later died has been identified.
Rayford Begaye, 26, was from Grants, New Mexico, La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith said.
“We don’t know why or when he went in the river,” she said. “But he went in near Albertsons and was found near the DoubleTree (Hotel), so he didn’t go far.”
Some rafters found Begaye unresponsive about 3 p.m. in the river and stopped to provide CPR, said Fire Marshal Karola Hanks of the Durango Fire Protection District. Medics responded and transported him to Mercy Regional Medical Center.
Early Thursday evening, Smith said Begaye was in the intensive-care unit and not doing well. He later died at 8:45 p.m., she said.
Police are investigating the incident, said Lt. Darrell Robertson with the Durango Police Department, but they did not have any indication of foul play.
Authorities didn’t have an identification for Begaye at the time of his death, Smith said.
An autopsy has been scheduled for Wednesday.
Several people have died this year after being found in the Animas, including Cody Pierce, 19, of Albuquerque, who drowned June 25; Jose Soto of Farmington, 56, who drowned June 16; and Karen Michelle Reyes, 42, whose body was discovered Feb. 7 and ruled a drowning complicated by hypothermia.
abutler@durangoherald.com
