REDDING, Calif. — Officials said two kayakers were rescued from the Sacramento River on Friday after their kayaks overturned in rapids and they became trapped on a rock bar.
At around noon on Friday, Sept. 18, crews responded to a water rescue on the Sacramento River, near Riverview Drive in south Redding. City of Redding Fire Captain Allen Gunderson said two people were kayaking when they hit rapids and fell out, eventually becoming stranded on a rock bar in an area known as Waxon Island.
Emergency crews on Riverview Drive in Redding, Calif., while at the scene of a rescue of two kayakers who became stranded on a rock bar after overturning on rapids while on the Sacramento River on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (KRCR Chief Photographer Adam McAllister)
Redding Fire officials said multiple good Samaritans arrived in drift boats to assist the kayakers. In less than 20 minutes, CHP’s H14 helicopter arrived and airlifted both kayakers out of the water. The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office’s boat was also deployed.
Both kayakers were uninjured, and emergency crews cleared the scene shortly after retrieval.
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