Kayakers Adrift Four Hours Near Anacapa Island Rescued by Ventura Chopper

Two kayakers spent roughly four hours stranded in the ocean after their 14-foot kayak overturned, before a Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted them to safety just after midnight and flew them to Oxnard Airport for medical evaluation. Both were wearing wetsuits and life jackets when rescuers found them, but they had no radio onboard, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Distress Call Came From Near Anacapa Island, Not San Pedro

The overturned kayak and the ensuing rescue were first reported as happening off San Pedro, as detailed by MyNewsLA. But detailed rescue reporting reviewed by edhat indicates the kayakers' 11:17 p.m. distress call on August 13 actually originated near Arch Rock off Anacapa Island, roughly a half-mile offshore. Because U.S. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach oversees search-and-rescue operations for both San Pedro and the southern Channel Islands, early regional releases credited that sector, which the outlet notes appears to have caused the confusion over the precise location. That geographic detail also explains why the kayakers were flown to Oxnard rather than a facility closer to Los Angeles Harbor.

Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders were dispatched around 11:15 p.m. after reports of two people in the water, per the Department of Homeland Security. A Coast Guard Air Station Ventura MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter responded around midnight, and its aircrew hoisted both kayakers from the water before transporting them to Oxnard Airport, where Ventura County emergency medical personnel took over their care. The kayakers were believed to be in stable condition, the same account states.

Newest Coast Guard Air Station Carried Out the Hoist

The unit that carried out the midnight hoist, Coast Guard Air Station Ventura, is the Coast Guard's newest air station in 25 years. It was commissioned in November 2024 at Naval Base Ventura County, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, with a $70 million facility built to cover 350 miles of California coastline. The station houses three Jayhawk helicopters and roughly 100 personnel, and its crews have handled nighttime hoists near Anacapa before, including an October 2024 rescue of a diver suffering from decompression sickness out of 10-foot seas.

TowBoatUS Ventura later recovered the overturned kayak and the pair's belongings. The private marine assistance company, based out of Ventura Harbor, frequently collaborates with the Coast Guard on Channel Islands maritime emergencies, per reporting from KABC.

No Radio Onboard, Despite Cell Phone Contact

The kayakers were able to reach the Coast Guard and were within cell phone range when they made contact, but they had no radio onboard for communication. Jason Caprioli, who coordinates search-and-rescue missions, said the case highlights the importance of carrying multiple reliable means of communication while on the water. He urged the use of signaling devices and a VHF-FM marine radio, noting that such devices — a whistle, mirror, flashing light or personal locator beacon — can make a critical difference during an emergency.

The California Division of Boating and Waterways explicitly warns ocean boaters against relying solely on cell phones for emergency calls because of cellular dead zones, recommending instead a waterproof VHF-FM marine radio tuned to Channel 16 so rescue watchstanders can track a signal and communicate directly with those in distress. Coast Guard officials also recommend filing a float plan with a trusted person before heading out, in addition to carrying a VHF-FM radio and other safety equipment.

Anacapa's Waters Are Notoriously Unforgiving

Anacapa Island sits roughly 13 miles off the Ventura County coastline within Channel Islands National Park, and its steep volcanic bluffs, sea caves and volatile swell conditions present severe navigation hazards for small craft, according to the National Park Service. The island's three narrow islets offer almost no shore landing points or shelter, which leaves paddlers with few options if conditions turn or gear fails.

Under California law enforced by the Division of Boating and Waterways, all human-powered vessels, including kayaks, must carry a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every person aboard, and children under 13 must wear one while underway. Non-motorized vessels operating between sunset and sunrise must also carry a white navigation light, such as a waterproof flashlight, along with a sound-signaling device like a whistle. Coast Guard officials encourage all paddlers and boaters to wear life jackets and to dress for the water temperature, not just the air temperature.

Paddling Remains a Disproportionate Share of Boating Deaths

The rescue arrives against a broader national backdrop tracked by the Water Sports Foundation, whose analysis of the U.S. Coast Guard's 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics found that national recreational boating fatalities dropped to a 50-year low of 556, even as paddling incidents continued to represent nearly a third of all watercraft deaths. Separate industry research analyzed by the same organization shows that nearly 75 percent of paddlers involved in fatal accidents had less than 100 hours of experience, and more than a third had fewer than 10 hours on the water, underscoring how quickly conditions can overwhelm novice paddlers who underestimate changing swell.