[UPDATE 5:32 p.m.: Photo] Capsized Kayaker Rescued Off Trinidad Head
BLM Map for Trinidad brochure showing Flatiron Rock in the upper left corner.
At about 4:43 p.m. Saturday, emergency crews responded to reports of a kayaker in distress near Trinidad Head. Reportedly the kayak had capsized. Dispatchers described the individual as “stuck on a rock.”
By 4:52 p.m., rescuers had located the kayaker on Flat Iron Rock. Cal Fire Humboldt Bay Fire’s rescue chopper boat C611 and U.S. Coast Guard helicopter C6547 were both dispatched to the scene.
The rescue was completed around 5:00 p.m. with no reported injuries. Crews reported offloading the kayaker shortly afterward.
Full map below
UPDATE 5:32 p.m.: A kayakerwho became stranded on Flat Iron Rock near Trinidad Head this afternoon was safely rescued and flown to shore by CAL FIRE helicopter 611.
The helicopter landed at Trinidad Elementary School, where the man who was wearing a wetsuit was offloaded and appeared unharmed, according to reporter Nikki Norris.
The CAL FIRE helicopter at Trinidad Elementary School where they landed to let off the kayaker who had been rescued. [Photo by Nikki Norris]
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Shot of the rescuers from TRINADAD
Thank you! I love that shot. May I use it if I do another article?
Sure thing, share away.
it wasn’t flat Iron rock, it was Blank Rock to the left of Flat Iron. Here is a wider view.
The artwork looks like Terry Torgerson’s.
I thought the same thing.
Huge thanks as always to these people! We have some excellent services up here with CalFire and the Coast Guard.
Amen to that Wayne.
The article says a Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched, but the photos are of a CalFire chopper.(?)
Correct — the article initially says a CG copter was dispatched but the pics and the update confirm the rescue was accomplished by a Cal-Fire copter.
Initial reports on breaking stories are always subject to correction as more info becomes available.
Kinda surprised by that one.
The Coast Guard helicopter base was about 5 (+-) minutes away (flight time).
It also said Humboldt Bay Fire Chopper C611 was dispatched to that location.
Humboldt Bay FD doesn’t have a helicopter. ‘C611’ is a ‘Fireboat’.
Bozo, thanks for setting me straight. It did say Humboldt Bay Fire Chopper C611. That is a nice fire boat. I wonder how long it would take for the boat to leave the harbor and arrive at the rock?
Fireboat is not really an ‘ocean’ boat. Kind of a cross between a barge and a boat.
If conditions were favorable (Humboldt Bar/sea-state)… maybe an hour.
Might have been an unpleasant ride up there and back.
Humboldt Sheriff has some rescue boats that could have been launched from Trinidad ramp/beach too.
Those rocks can have some nasty currents and ‘odd’ wave chop around them. Kayaker might have got too close and capsized.
Helicopter was the right choice.
My apologies. I apparently conflated the Humboldt Bay boat and the Cal Fire chopper. I have no idea how I did that. It was chopper 611 that picked up the stranded Kayaker.
Did they have to jettison fuel?
im guessing the rescuers didn’t have to jettison fuel for a grown adult male
Isn’t righting oneself part of basic kayak training? Or just call for an $9k helio ride. Hey Darwin, got yourself into a jam, get yourself out of the jam….or not.
Zipline, yes learning to right yourself when you roll your kayak over is taught, but the training is on you. They used to have a class now and then down by the bay at the park. My wife and I attended the class, and we learned a great deal of useful information.
Calling for rescue >> much cheaper than looking for a body.
There can be nasty currents around those rocks.
Capsized, climbed up on the rock… at that point the Kayak is 100 yards away and headed for San Francisco.
We don’t know if the kayaker had righting-training or not. Of course, that need should be obvious. But if he loses the kayak, do we just let him drown? Oh, I forgot, it’s a Trump world now, screw him. To heck with everybody but me. Yeah, YEAH!
TDS🤣
Rocks are likely to capsize a kayak. He should know that and needs to practice righting his kayak. If it took on water he should know how to empty it as it is righted. Maybe it is the wrong kayak for the ocean. And if it leaked into the sealed hull then may need a patch. Maybe he didn’t tether the paddle to the boat. Or had an emergency like a panic attack. I hope he was not kayaking alone…..