Two kayakers rescued from San Lorenzo River Saturday evening

UPDATE 02/11/19 5:45 p.m. First responders urging caution after two kayakers were rescued from the San Lorenzo River Saturday evening.

Around 5:30 p.m. Ben Lomond Fire department and other first responders were called to the paradise park area after two men were ejected from their kayak.

One of the two people was trapped under water, so the person’s friend freed them and started performing CPR while getting help from first responders.

“One of the patients was able to make a call on his cell phone and he had to basically stand on rivers edge arms reached out as far as he could to get just enough service,” says Matt Boynton with Ben Lomond Fire Department.

Fire crews got to the scene and started looking for them, but they were difficult to find because there was limited cell service. Crews were able to use GPS to eventually find them.

Getting the two to safety was a challenge because of steep mountain sides, fast moving water and the darkness, but crews used several rope rescue systems to get the kayakers out safely.

Firefighter Nick Burgess says, “by the time we got deployed into the river was we had to cross the river and head up stream with no lights. we couldn’t get personnel or engines near the rivers edge so we’re basically going off headlamp and flashlights and they’re at least a quarter mile upstream from any light. they were basically on the waters edge in the darkest spot, in the worst place possible.”

The kayaker who had been trapped was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The Santa Cruz Fire Department says the friend’s CPR training may have played a significant role in what they think is a positive outcome for the trapped kayaker.

Boynton says if you haven’t had the proper safety training for rapids, then you should avoid going in the San Lorenzo river after heavy rains, ” first, don’t go in the water if you don’t know what you’re doing. The second is take the training. Water is fun if you know what you’re doing.”

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Two kayakers were rescued from the San Lorenzo River Saturday evening after they were ejected from their kayaks.

It happened near Paradise Park around 5:30 p.m.

One of the two people was trapped under water, so the person’s friend freed them and started performing CPR while getting help from first responders.

Fire crews got to the scene and started looking for them, but they were difficult to find because there was limited cell service. Crews were able to use GPS to eventually find them.

Getting the two to safety was a challenge because of steep mountain sides, fast moving water and the darkness, but crews used several rope rescue systems to get the kayakers out safely.

The kayaker who had been trapped was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The Santa Cruz Fire Department says the friend’s CPR training may have played a significant role in what they think is a positive outcome for the trapped kayaker.