A large scale search and rescue operation was launched on Saturday evening after two kayakers found themselves in dangerously high surf at the estuary of Þjórsá river in South Iceland.
Two kayakers, one Icelandic the other French
Two coast guard helicopters and members of ICE-SAR units from towns in South Iceland, as well as specialized rescue units from Reykjavík were dispatched to help save the men. One of the two men, an Icelandic national, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the National University Hospital in Reykjavík. The second kayaker, a French national, survived.
According to a statement from the Police in West Iceland first responders received a distress call at 21:13 on Saturday evening that two kayakers were in peril at the estuary of Þjórsá river. Þjórsá is a white-water, glacial river, Iceland's longest river and a popular destination for kayakers. The two kayakers had found themselves in dangerously high waves. The waves at the site were too heavy to allow the launching of rescue boats at the beach.
Pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital
When rescue units arrived at the scene the kayaks were seen floating empty to the east from the estuary. The Coast Guard helicopters were then able to locate the two men floating in the sea further to the west. Rescue operations were made easier by the fact that one of the men had managed to call rescue workers and maintained a phone connection to the rescuers the whole time.
Both men were rescued from the water. By that time both men were very cold and suffering from exposure. They were flown immediately to the National University Hospital in Reykjavík. One of the two kayakers had lost consciousness while in the water. Attempts to revive the man during the fight to Reykjavík proved unsuccessful. Police in South Iceland has confirmed that the man was pronounced dead upon arrival.
A large scale search and rescue operation was launched on Saturday evening after two kayakers found themselves in dangerously high surf at the estuary of Þjórsá river in South Iceland.
Two kayakers, one Icelandic the other French
Two coast guard helicopters and members of ICE-SAR units from towns in South Iceland, as well as specialized rescue units from Reykjavík were dispatched to help save the men. One of the two men, an Icelandic national, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the National University Hospital in Reykjavík. The second kayaker, a French national, survived.
According to a statement from the Police in West Iceland first responders received a distress call at 21:13 on Saturday evening that two kayakers were in peril at the estuary of Þjórsá river. Þjórsá is a white-water, glacial river, Iceland's longest river and a popular destination for kayakers. The two kayakers had found themselves in dangerously high waves. The waves at the site were too heavy to allow the launching of rescue boats at the beach.
Pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital
When rescue units arrived at the scene the kayaks were seen floating empty to the east from the estuary. The Coast Guard helicopters were then able to locate the two men floating in the sea further to the west. Rescue operations were made easier by the fact that one of the men had managed to call rescue workers and maintained a phone connection to the rescuers the whole time.
Both men were rescued from the water. By that time both men were very cold and suffering from exposure. They were flown immediately to the National University Hospital in Reykjavík. One of the two kayakers had lost consciousness while in the water. Attempts to revive the man during the fight to Reykjavík proved unsuccessful. Police in South Iceland has confirmed that the man was pronounced dead upon arrival.
