July 22, 2023 Colorado River
Family speaks out after tragedy in Colorado River
by: Michael Logerwell
WesternSlopeNow.com
Posted: Jul 27, 2023 / 05:00 AM MDT
PALISADE, Colo. (KREX) — Michael Taylor, the brother of 30-year-old Peyton Schartner, is spreading awareness about the dangers of the Colorado River after his sister’s tragic drowning. "We have to explain to these younger children, over and over again that their mom’s gone because they cannot grasp that concept. Had she worn a vest she would have very likely made it out of that river."
Taylor, himself, is an EMS trainer and tells KREX he spent some time on river rescue teams. He said wearing a life jacket drastically increases your survival chances, “80% of the people that wear vests go in that water and survive.”
On Saturday, July 15th Peyton and her mother went to Palisade for kayaking on the Colorado River. Taylor said they visually inspected the river and then jumped in. “My sister had a life vest…my mother did ask her to wear one. My sister chose not to wear a vest because she was concerned about her tan lines.”
After Peyton was thrown from the river her mother tried to throw her a life jacket. she grabbed on, but Taylor told me it was too late, “But at that point, it was too late she had been pulled under the water and the asphyxiation had begun.”
Now, tragedy is left in her wake.She had two young daughters, one of them three, and one who was just born that are now without a mother because of her decision to not wear a vest.
In hopes fewer families experience the tragedy of losing a loved one, Taylor is spreading awareness. “You could be the strongest swimmer in the world and you are not stronger than that river, it will pull you under.”
