Lake Tahoe canoers stranded 3/4 mile off shore after boat takes on water

6/4/19 4:00PM Update: Details have been updated in Monday evening's incident on Lake Tahoe. The two people were in a canoe that took on water for unknown reasons about 3/4 of a mile off the shore of South Lake Tahoe. They ended up in the water and were there for about ten minutes before a local boater got to them and pulled them out of the water. The Nevada Department of Wildlife had a boat on the water that reached the group, followed by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) boat. SLTPD got the pair off the local boater's boat and returned them to El Dorado Beach.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two paddleboarders are lucky tonight after finding themselves in the cold water of Lake Tahoe, unable to get back on their boards.

Officers on the South Lake Tahoe Police Department boat had just docked their vessel Monday and were headed home for the day when a distress call came in about two people who had fallen off their paddleboards. They were about 3/4 mile offshore according to SLTPD Sgt. Jeff Roberson. He said the officers rushed back to the marina and got the boat back on the water.

When they reached the stranded paddleboarders they pulled the pair safely onto their boat.

They also issued them tickets for being on the lake without the required life jackets. Law enforcement around Lake Tahoe all have zero tolerance for no life vest being worn, a simple item that saves lives.

An average of seven people die in the cold water of Lake Tahoe every year, all of which most likely could have been prevented by the use of a life preserver.

Drowning incidents from boating, paddling and swimming often share the same cause, "cold water shock," an involuntary gasp reflex caused by sudden immersion in cold water. Swimmers and boaters suddenly exposed to the cold waters of Lake Tahoe may experience rapid breathing, gasping, fainting, muscle failure and immediate risk of drowning.

Most of the drownings on Lake Tahoe happen in minutes or even seconds. The best way for boaters, paddlers and swimmers to stay safe is to always wear a life jacket. Even if a boater or paddler does not expect to enter the water, they should prepare for the unexpected.