Rough waters played a major role in the death of a 61-year-old Rhode Island woman in a kayaking accident on Friday, state environmental officials said.
The victim and a 56-year-old companion were headed to the mouth of the Narrow River in Narragansett where sea conditions were rough at about 8:30 a.m., according to a statement from the state Department of Environmental Management.
One of the kayaks flipped over and the victim fell into the water and started to struggle, according to the statement.
The other kayaker struggled to help the victim until the Narragansett Fire Department arrived to assist. The Cumberland woman was taken to South County Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The other kayaker, also from Cumberland, was taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries.
Their names were not made public. State Environmental Police are investigating.
