Coast Guard rescues two stand-up paddle boarders on Lake Tahoe

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Pacific Southwest Contact: 11th District Public Affairs Office: (510) 437-3325 After Hours: (510) 772-8865 11th District online newsroom

Coast Guard rescues two stand-up paddle boarders on Lake Tahoe

SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard rescued two stand-up paddle boarders who were observed struggling on Lake Tahoe, Tuesday afternoon. 

A good Samaritan called 911 at approximately 4 p.m., reporting two teenage boys adrift and struggling to paddle upwind near Rubicon Point on Lake Tahoe, which was relayed to Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe watchstanders.

A Station Lake Tahoe 25-foot response boat crew was dispatched to the scene. The crew took the paddlers aboard and transported them to Lester Beach with no reported injuries. 

“Although the weather is starting to warm up, the lake is still really cold,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Josh Brown, a machinery technician at Station Lake Tahoe. “The cold water can rob you of your body heat 27 times faster than air temperature, which can really catch people by surprise.”

The Coast Guard urges all boaters and paddlers to always wear a life jacket when on the water, as the two paddlers in this case did. It is also important to know the water temperatures and dress for immersion, as circumstances can quickly change and result in a boater or paddler being immersed in the water. 

Learn more about boating safety at USCGBoating.org. 

Editor's Note: Click on image below to download high-resolution version of stock Station Lake Tahoe imagery. 

-USCG-