Russell Mayfield, a 65-year-old resident of Visalia, has died in the hospital following a kayaking accident on the Kings River. The incident occurred on Friday around 2:00 p.m. near the bridge just below Pine Flat Dam. Mayfield was wearing a life jacket, which was not fully secured, when he fell into the river.
Witnesses reported that Mayfield became trapped in the rapid currents at a weir, which pulled him underwater. Although he eventually resurfaced, an attempt to rescue him with a thrown rope was unsuccessful as he could not hold on.
Two sheriff’s sergeants, who were conducting dive training at Avocado Lake, responded to the emergency call. They managed to pull Mayfield to the shore and began CPR. Emergency medical services arrived soon after and took over the resuscitation efforts before transporting him to the hospital. Mayfield was submerged for approximately 15 to 20 minutes in water temperatures of the low 50s.
In a statement following the incident, authorities emphasized the necessity of securing life jackets appropriately. They advised that, “If you have an opportunity, you should always lie on your back to float with your feet downstream. Try and steer yourself toward the shore or toward an object to grab onto.”
