Injured Kayaker Rescued From River

After a 15-hour search and rescue operation last night, an injured kayaker was lifted by helicopter from a remote section of the Stanislaus River canyon early this morning.

Calaveras County Sheriffs deputies, Search and rescue team volunteers, CDF and Ebbetts Pass firefighters and the CHP responded to locate and rescue 48-year-old Richard Parnell of Coloma.

Firefighters and search and rescue members had to walk into the canyon near the Stanislaus River Bridge in Big Trees Park and McKay’s Point Sunday night.

CDF firefighters Randy Thomas and J.R. Mellin were the first to locate the victim around midnight. They and Search and rescue members on scene stayed with the injured kayaker through the night giving first aid.

At 8 a.m. this morning the victim was safely lifted from the canyon and then flown to U.C. Medical Center for treatment.