Man remains missing after kayak capsized on the American River

The search for a missing kayaker who fell into the water along the American River near Auburn, Calif., was placed on hold Sunday because of poor conditions, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.

The missing man was on a kayak with another man when their vessel capsized Friday evening in fast-running water beneath the No Hands Bridge near Auburn, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The other man reached nearby rocks and safely made it back to shore, the Sheriff’s Office said. The missing person wasn’t identified, and officials said it wasn’t known whether he might still be alive.

“It’s tough to say,” said Elise Soviar, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. “You never want to give up hope until you know.”

Authorities started to search for the missing kayaker Friday. A dive team also went out on the water Saturday morning as aerial and water search efforts continued throughout the day, she said.

Soviar said the search was suspended Sunday because of water flow and visibility. Conditions will determine whether the search will resume Monday.

Although the river might look inviting during a sunny day, authorities say people should avoid going into the water during this time of year.

“The water is very, very swift and it’s very, very cold because it’s coming from the mountains and this is a known dangerous portion of the American River,” she said.

The Sheriff’s Office teamed up with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection‘s Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit on the search. State Parks, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol also offered assistance, according to a social media post from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office on Friday.