Petaluma man swept out to sea near Jenner, survives

A 71-year-old Petaluma man was returned safely to shore near Jenner after being injured Tuesday morning when his kayak capsized just outside the mouth of the Russian River, a state park lifeguard said.

The unidentified man ran into trouble around 9:30 a.m. after leaving the protection of the river and confronting ocean waves that flipped his boat, which apparently landed on top of him and struck his leg, lifeguard Tim Murphy said.

Onlookers at Goat Rock State Beach saw the man being swept out to sea and called 911, Murphy said. He and three other on-duty lifeguards were among those who responded, along with Monte Rio and Russian River fire personnel.

The man’s kayak drifted ashore, and the man, going with the current, made it onto a beach north of Jenner but was unable to climb the cliff to the highway because of a hurt knee, Murphy said. Lifeguards put him on a rescue board and transported him about 200 yards to lower ground at the estuary, where an ambulance awaited.

Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said the man was well enough to drive himself to the hospital.

The man “said that his intention was to exit the river mouth and paddle around in the ocean,” Murphy said. “I think he just underestimated the conditions for today.”

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MaryCallahanB.