Two men rescued from Lake Tahoe after their kayaks capsize

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two men were pulled from the chilly waters of Lake Tahoe after their kayaks capsized late Saturday afternoon.

At approximately 5:00 p.m. on June 6, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue's Marine 17 was dispatched to the water off of Baldwin Beach for possible kayakers in distress. One of the kayakers was able to make a call and the GPS coordinates put the two men several hundred yards off the shore between Baldwin Beach and Emerald Bay.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Marine 3 was first on the scene and called for water rescue assistance in finding the men. Marine 17 joined the South Lake Tahoe Police Department's Marine 1, the US Coast Guard, and a CALSTAR helicopter in the search.

The helicopter was able to find the first man, a 39-year-old, and the crew on Marine 3 pulled the hypothermic victim on board. The victim was then transferred to Marine 17 for medical care and transport to Camp Richardson where he was met by medics and taken to Barton Hospital.

Several minutes later, CALSTAR located the second victim and the crew on Marine 3 pulled him on board. The 33-year-old male was then transferred to Marine 17 for medical treatment, taken to shore and transported to Barton Hospital.

Both of the men were wearing life vests and had been in the water for about two hours. They were both suffering from severe hypothermia when transported to Barton Hospital in South Lake Tahoe. The water was 52 degrees at the time according to South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Brian Hannink.

There was a Lake Wind Advisory in place Saturday and, according to the National Weather Service in Reno, gusts were 35-45 mph at the time of the incident. Waves were forecast to be 2-4 feet on Lake Tahoe. According to the patrol boats at the scene, there was a six foot wake at the time of the rescue.

Through the coordinated efforts of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, CALSTAR, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection District, the Coast Guard, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the victims were brought to safety.

This incident services as a reminder to check weather and water conditions prior to any activities on Lake Tahoe said South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Koeppen. The high winds made for rough waters and difficult conditions anybody venturing out on the Lake.

The men's hometowns are unknown at this time. Both have been released from Barton.