A 52-year-old man has died after his canoe capsized in Mission Bay Friday morning, sending him and two others into the water, officials said.
The boating accident happened around 11:45 a.m. near the Ski Beach Boat Launch.
Rich Stropky, San Diego Lifeguard Marine Safety Lieutenant, said three people were aboard the canoe when they ran into trouble at the buoy line about 25 yards from the boat ramp. As they redistributed their weight on the canoe, it capsized.
Stropky said all three people fell into the water. Two were wearing life vests and swam to safety. The third person was not wearing a life vest, and the wind blew the device out of his reach as he hit the water.
A kayaker in the area saw the capsized canoe and rushed over to help. The kayaker noticed the victim face down in the water and turned him over, pulling him to the shore. He was not breathing and had no pulse, Stropky said.
Lifeguards arrived on scene less than five minutes later and administered aid to the victim. He was taken to UCSD Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Stropky said the incident should serve as a safety warning for those visiting the bay and beaches on this very hot, record-breaking weekend.
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“This could’ve been prevented by proper use of a personal flotation device,” said Stropky. “There are a lot of rules out there and for good reason.”
