Kayaker rescued on Mokelumne River

WOODBRIDGE — Personnel from the Woodbridge, Clements and Mokelumne fire departments rescued a kayaker on the Mokelumne River on Tuesday afternoon.

Four kayakers entered the river just west of Lower Sacramento Road, Woodbridge Fire Chief Steve Butler said, but one quickly became stuck on debris and downed trees.

“A second kayaker tried to rescue him and flipped his kayak over,” Butler said. That kayaker was able to make his way out of the water, he said.

The fire departments responded and Clements Fire was able to rescue the stuck kayaker with their rescue boat, Butler said.

While no one was hurt, he was concerned that none of the kayakers were wearing life vests.

“Anybody who’s going to be on the water or even near the water needs to be wearing a life preserver,” Butler said. The river is too cold, high and fast right now to not take every safety precaution, he said.