Surf-swamped kayak fishermen rescued
By
Debbi Baker, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.
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SAN DIEGO — Two capsized kayakers had to be rescued by lifeguards from the cold, choppy waters off the coast of La Jolla early Tuesday morning.
The men left to go fishing for yellow tail about 5:30 a.m. from the boat launch at La Jolla Shores and were near the kelp beds about one mile offshore when they ran into trouble, San Diego lifeguard Lt. Nick Lerma said.
“They were overcome by breaking swells,” Lerma said.
There was a group of 12 to 15 kayakers in the area at the time and some of them tried to help they had a difficult time due to the conditions which included white caps, four to five foot swells and strong westerly winds blowing at 20 to 25 knots, Lerma said. Some lost their paddles and at least one of the capsized kayaks was blown away.
The winds pushed the kayaks toward the shore and when they were about 400 yards out when a lifeguard paddled out to meet them. He brought one man ashore and then paddled out again for the second. Lerma said.
The service was alerted to the emergency by a mayday call. Lerma said.
The first man, said to be 52-years-old, was taken to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia, Lerma said. The second was checked out and released by paramedics.
The rest of the kayakers returned to the beach, Lerma said. Lifeguards, assisted by the Coast Guard, searched the area for about an hour and a half to make sure all were accounted for.
The National Weather Service has issued a small crafts advisory for the coastal waters from San Mateo Point to the Mexico border that will remain in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, are advised to stay out of the water.
“It’s not a good day to go fishing,” Lerma said