Swift Kern River Claims Kayaker’s Life by Blake Taylor A man drowned over the weekend while kayaking in the Kern River. The experienced kayaker capsized in the Soda Springs Rapids in Tulare County Sunday. His body was recovered shortly after his friends called for help. A uthorities are warning people that Central California’s rivers are running higher and faster than normal due to all that rain we received during the winter and early spring. Kayaker Drowns in Kern River Contributor: CBS47 News newsdesk@cbs47.tv Published: 5/08 An experienced kayaker is dead after he capsized in fast running water in the Kern River. The victim was with three friends. He and another kayaker capsized in the Soda Springs Rapids in Tulare County. The other kayaker was helped out of the water, but the victim was carried into a more intense rapids. Tulare Sheriff’s Deputies and the Fresno Sheriff’s helicopter recovered the victim’s body. His name has not been released. He is from Kern County. The victim was an experienced kayaker and was wearing a life jacket. Authorities warn that rivers in Central California are running higher and faster than usual. They can also be bitter cold Yesterday, 08:26 PM kaihacker (Boof.com) Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lake Isabella Posts: 286 Charlie, I don’t know exactly what happened on the run. I assisted the Tulare Sheriff with the body recovery. The flow was higher and the sheriff didn’t think it would be reasonable for his crew to row a raft across the river so I kayaked across and waded out. I secured his body to a tree up stream and set up second line to the shore with a 2:1 and pulled him in and secured him to the shore. The sheriff brought in a helicopter later that day. I talked to the sheriff soon after and he said that there would not be an autopsy unless the family wanted one. Several weeks later I heard that it was determined that it was a heart attach but I don’t know if that is accurate.