Expert kayaker dies while paddling in Calif forest

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. (AP) — An Oregon man known as an expert kayaker died while paddling in the Stanislaus National Forest at a spot called Waterfall Alley over the weekend.

Tuolumne County sheriff’s officials identified the man Monday as 28-year-old Allen Michael Satcher of Portland.

Authorities say Satcher was kayaking with several other people on Cherry Creek when he encountered an area where the water formed a whirlpool Sunday morning.

Witnesses told authorities that when Satcher’s kayak started spinning uncontrollably, he jumped out and tried to grab ropes tossed out by others in his group. But he couldn’t reach them and went underwater.

Someone from the group was able to eventually pull him out and performed CPR, but couldn’t revive him.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter responded to an emergency beacon and helped the group after the drowning.