A 52-year-old man drowned in Mission Bay on Friday when the kayak he was riding in with two friends flipped over, authorities reported.
The canoe overturned about 25 yards offshore from Ski Beach about 11:30 a.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
One of the occupants was wearing a life preserver was able to swim to shore, SDFRD spokesman Lee Swanson said. One of her two male companions tried to do likewise while the other stayed with the overturned boat, clinging to it to stay afloat.
The swimming man soon was struggling in the water and yelling for help, Swanson said. Alerted to the emergency, another kayaker paddled over and gave the victim a flotation device, then went to help the second man.
A short time later, before anyone realized he was in trouble again, the first man was spotted floating face-down.
Good Samaritans pulled him to shore and performed CPR while awaiting emergency personnel. Medics soon arrived and took over the lifesaving efforts at the scene before transporting the stricken man to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name was withheld pending family notification.
No other injuries were reported.
— City News Service