Man dies when kayak overturns in Mason County, 3 others hurt

PEORIA (WEEK) - An afternoon of kayaking turned tragic Sunday in Mason County when one of the narrow boats overturned in high winds.

Illinois Conservation Police said they were called about 4:30 p.m. to the backwater lake at Matanzas Beach near Havana.

Jayette Bolinski, a spokesperson with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said four people from Champaign-Urbana went kayaking on the lake when winds picked up and created waves.

About halfway across, Bolinski said one of the boaters fell out of his kayak as it overturned. She said a 27-year old Champaign man grabbed hold of one of the other kayaks, but let go and the others lost sight of him.

Bolinski said one of the other kayakers made it to shore and signaled for help.

The Champaign man was pronounced dead at Mason District Hospital in Havana. The three others were treated at the same hospitals. Their conditions are not known.

Bolinski said Conservation Police are investigating the incident.