A kayaker died in Tomales Bay on Wednesday after twice falling into the water, first from his own boat and then from the boat of a friend who tried to save him.
The victim is a Sonoma County resident about 50 years old, said Marin County sheriff’s Lt. Doug Pittman.
The man’s name was not released pending notification of his family.
The incident happened in the afternoon after the two kayakers had paddled from the Nick’s Cove area to Dillon Beach, Pittman said.
As they were heading back, one man looked back to see that his friend had fallen from his boat in the rough conditions. He hoisted the victim into his own boat because the other was taking on water, but the victim fell back in again and was lost.
The surviving kayaker paddled to shore. Meanwhile, some fishermen who saw the distress called 911.
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the Marin County Fire Department launched a search for the missing kayaker along with a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew. The victim’s body was found in the surf a short time later.
The coroner’s division is investigating the cause of death.
