Story taken from the Local paper here in Fresno today, concerning an accident over the weekend.

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Man dies trying to save another
Bystanders save one after two kayaks get stuck under bridge in turbulent waters of the Kings River.
By Lisa Aleman-Padilla
The Fresno Bee
(Published Monday, September 15, 2003, 5:38 AM)

A man drowned Sunday in the Kings River trying to help another man whose kayak became tangled under a bridge below Pine Flat Dam.
The victim, whose name was withheld until family could be notified, died about 10:15 a.m. after he went into the river on an inflatable kayak to reach a man yelling for help, witnesses said.

Andres Enriquez, of Fresno, was fishing with his brother when the first man began pleading for help. "We thought he was playing at first," he said.

Enriquez said the man, who appeared to be in his early 20s, warned the victim against coming into the water because the current was too strong.

"He said, 'Don't come. Get away,' but it was already too late," he said.

The victim, who appeared to be about 40 years old, was wearing a life jacket but did not have it buckled when he entered the water, Enriquez said.

The victim made it to the bridge, only to become entangled as well.

Both men struggled to stay above water as several other men, who were fishing nearby, dangled a 75-foot rope from the bridge.

"It was going into the water but the current was taking the rope the other way," Enriquez said.

The first man was finally able to grab the rope and was pulled to safety, but the victim was unable to reach for the lifeline.

"He couldn't grab the rope. He was too weak already," Enriquez said. "I guess he stopped trying to fight it. He knew he wasn't going to get out. He just laid on his back with his life jacket open."

A friend of the victim eventually pulled him out of the water. Rescuers tried to revive him.

Sgt. Kevin Smith of the Fresno County Sheriff's Department said the victim, who was an experienced kayaker, was in the water for about 15 minutes.

Nearly two hours after the accident, the victim's red kayak remained stuck under the bridge, violently bobbing against the waves.

The victim's life jacket floated down the river, past the spot along the shore where his tarp-covered body lay.

Signs prohibiting the launching of canoes, kayaks, rafts and floats within 300 feet of the bridge took on an ominous quality.

Sheriff's detectives and a park ranger gathered information as fishermen and families tried to resume their day of recreation.

Michelle Valenzuela of Selma, who spends a portion of the year at a nearby Pine Flat campsite, said the sounds of the sirens and the rescue helicopter are familiar at the river.

"Every year there's one out there, it seems like," she said of drowning victims.

Fresno resident Ludi Salinas was at the river when the drowning happened: "It all happened so fast. Nobody really had a chance to get him."

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Basically, it was caused by someone not paying attention to warning signs, and this happens a lot. Almost every year we lose rafters, swimmers and as in this story kayakers as well.

My guess would be that the victim didn't give up as the witness said, but rather succumbed to the cold and strong current.

God Bless him for his effort/attempt...