Sheriff’s helicopter pulls overturned kayaker from Tomales Bay

The man was in the bay, holding onto his kayak which was partially submerged.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A kayaker tossed into Tomales Bay when his kayak overturned Saturday was pulled from the water by the Sonoma County sheriff’s helicopter crew.

The man was found clinging to the half-submerged kayak, aided by another kayaker who stayed with him, offering encouragement and helping him keep his head above water, officials said.

This afternoon at about 2pm, the Sonoma Sheriff’s helicopter “Henry-1” was patrolling south Santa Rosa when they overheard Marin Co Fire being dispatched to a water rescue in Tomales Bay. The crew immediately changed direction and headed towards the bay, arriving in approximately 7 minutes. While flying to Tomales Bay, a rescue-paramedic in the back of the helicopter donned a wetsuit to prepare to enter the water. Upon arriving, H1 quickly located a man that had fallen from his kayak between Pelican Pt and Hog Island. The man’s kayak was full of water and partially submerged as he hung onto the side of it. Luckily, another kayaker in the area had come to the man’s aid, assisted him with staying afloat and offering encouragement. H1 landed at the nearby Miller Park parking lot. The crew configured the helicopter for a long line rescue and the paramedic attached himself to the bottom of the long line. He was flown to the victim and secured him into a rescue device. The pilot flew the pair back to the parking lot where the victim was evaluated and treated for hypothermia by Marin Co Fire Paramedics. The man was in good condition after he got out of his wet clothes and warmed up. Another great team effort with our partners to the south! This video is longer than we generally post, however, it shows the response, locating of the victim, configuring the helicopter and the rescue. If you feel you’re having a bout of deja vu, this is a repost from a few hours ago.

Posted by Sonoma Sheriff on Sunday, March 18, 2018

The helicopter crew was flying over Santa Rosa about 2 p.m. Saturday when a call was issued for a water rescue in the west Marin County bay between Pelican Point and Hog Island.

The helicopter arrived in seven minutes and lowered a paramedic in a wet suit on a long line to the man in the water.

Hoisted into the air, the paddler and paramedic were taken to Miller Park on the eastern edge of the bay. The man, who wasn’t identified, was checked by paramedics and didn’t need medical aid.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.

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