Coast Guard, good Samaritan rescue kayakers in distress on Lake Tahoe

Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe crew members participate in two-boat training, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. The crew maintains and operates two 25-foot rapid response boats and conducts search and rescue, law enforcement and national defense missions. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sherri Eng.

Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe maintains and operates two 25-foot rapid response boats and conducts search and rescue, law enforcement and national defense missions. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sherri Eng.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A man and a woman were rescued by the Coast Guard and a good Samaritan after they fell off their kayaks in the vicinity of Incline Beach on North Lake Tahoe Wednesday.

The kayakers were paddling near Incline Beach at approximately 3:20 p.m., when both adults fell off of their kayaks and were unable to get back on and drifted apart from each other. A Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe boatcrew launched and assisted the kayakers shortly after they were reported in the water. Douglas County Sherriff’s Marine 7, Incline Battalion Fire Marine Rescue and South Lake Tahoe Police Department’s Marine 1 were also responded.

Crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard response boat located the adult male and rescued him near Incline Beach. The female kayaker was rescued by a local good Samaritan. Neither kayaker was wearing a life jacket. Both kayakers were reunited at the Hyatt Pier reportedly in stable condition.

“Life jackets greatly increase the chance of survival during maritime accidents, which can occur suddenly and without warning,” said Chief Petty Officer Daniel Polhemus, Officer-in-charge, Station Lake Tahoe. “The dispatched responders were able to immediately locate and rescue the persons in the water because of the excellent coordination between the local agencies.”


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