One of 2 kayakers rescued from Green River dies

RAVENSDALE, Wash. — One of two kayakers pulled out of the Green River Sunday afternoon has died, the King County Sheriff’s Office said.

The kayaker who was killed, a 45-year-old woman, fell out of her kayak about 1:30 p.m. near Black Diamond and drifted downstream.

The woman's friends were able to pull her from the water and started CPR until medics arrived.

She was taken to a hospital in Auburn in critical condition.  She later died from her injuries Monday morning.

Deputies told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Graham Johnson that the woman had some experience as a river kayaker and was well-equipped with a helmet and life jacket.

The second incident happened before 2:30 p.m., when crews responded to a report of a kayaker in the water.

A 23-year-old Kent man fell out of his kayak at Kanaskat Palmer State Park, and he had a life jacket on and was going downstream.

A marine unit got the man out, and he is OK.

Deputies said the man had never been in a kayak before.

KIRO