Man drowns in Mesa County swimming hole

MESA COUNTY - The Mesa County Sheriff's Office says a man drowned Saturday in a swimming hole west of Grand Junction.

The area is known locally as the "potholes." It's about 45 minutes west of Grand Junction.

According to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office, the man jumped into the water to help a fellow swimmer who was described as being "distressed."

The man was identified 19-year-old Stephen F. Burns II from Littleton.

The sheriff's office says Burns was caught in the current. His friends were able to pull him out, but despite efforts to perform CPR, authorities pronounced him dead when they arrived.

The manner of his death was ruled an accident.