Fire departments, other agencies save kayaker in emergency Lake Tahoe rescue
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 04/23/2020 - 3:03pm
South Lake Tahoe police and firefighters leapt into action Wednesday to save a man who's kayak was taking on water.
It happened at Regan Beach around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. People on the beach heard the man yelling for help and immediately called 911.
"Police and firefighters arrived within minutes of the 911 call, immediately setting out onto the water to rescue the victim," said Fire Chief Clive Savacool. "The high level of training and the technical rescue equipment made all the difference in the victim surviving."
The Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection District helped pull the kayaker from the water and got him to Timber Cove, where Paramedics with the El Dorado County JPA transported him to Barton Hospital in serious condition. The Coast Guard helped get the kayak out of the Lake.
"This event serves as a good reminder to be prepared when venturing out onto the Lake, ensuring everyone is wearing a life jacket and suitable attire for the conditions," said Savacool, "Current water temperatures of the Lake are in the low 50's; temperatures low enough to cause rapid fatigue and rapid hypothermia."
The man is expected to survive.
