Fatal Green River rafting accident in Colorado claims the life of Michael Harp – Obituary
A Utah fire captain, identified as Michael Harp, tragically lost his life in a rafting accident on the Green River in Colorado earlier this week, according to officials.
Captain Harp, aged 54, was navigating the Green River when the accident occurred, as detailed in a press release from the Salt Lake City Fire Department. A dedicated second-generation firefighter with 27 years of service, Harp was deeply respected within the department.
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An undated photograph provided by the Salt Lake City Fire Department shows Captain Michael Harp, who died in a rafting accident on the Green River in June 2024. (Courtesy: Salt Lake City Fire Department)
“Captain Michael Harp devoted his life to serving the citizens of Salt Lake City and his fellow firefighters,” officials stated. “His enduring legacy of service, leadership, compassion, and infectious laughter will be cherished by everyone who knew him.”
The press release highlighted Harp’s deployment to Ground Zero on 9/11 and his dedicated membership in Utah Task Force 1. The Salt Lake City Fire Department extended its condolences to Harp’s family and requested that the public respect their privacy during this time.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult period,” the fire department stated.
The National Park Service confirmed to ABC4.com that the Moffat County Coroner’s Office in Colorado identified the deceased in Dinosaur National Monument as Michael Harp, 54.
According to a National Park Service press release dated June 28, Harp was participating in a private, permitted trip on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument on Thursday afternoon.
At approximately 4 p.m. on Thursday, officials received a report of a boat trapped against a rock with one person missing from the group. After the boat was freed, Harp was found to have drifted downstream after losing his lifejacket.
His body was discovered about 10 miles downstream from the incident site around 7:45 a.m. on Friday, June 28.
Dinosaur National Monument, encompassing over 210,000 acres in Utah and Colorado, is renowned for its whitewater rafting opportunities on the Green and Yampa rivers, according to the National Park Service.