Rescued Kayaker Passes Away
April 20, 2025 – Fresno County Sheriff's Office officials report that Russell Mayfield, a 65-year-old man from Visalia, passed away in the hospital on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
On Friday around 2:00 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call regarding a man in kayak who fell into the Kings River near the bridge just below Pine Flat Dam. He was wearing a life jacket, but it wasn’t zipped up.
He became caught in the fast-turning water at a weir, which sucked him under water. He eventually surfaced.
Witnesses threw him a rope. He grabbed it and as they tried pulling him out, he slipped away.
Related: Fresno County Sheriff Reports Kayaker Rescued After Falling into the Kings River Near Pine Flat Dam
Two sheriff’s sergeants who happened to be doing dive training at Avocado Lake, heard the call and responded. They pulled the man to shore and started CPR. EMS arrived and took over CPR, then transported him to the hospital. He was in the water for 15 - 20 minutes and the water temperature was in the low 50s.
We want to emphasize the importance of properly wearing a life jacket and make sure it fits correctly. 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.
Source & photo: Fresno County Sheriff's Office
