Rescuers locate woman lost in kayak in Ventura Marsh

[caption id="attachment_11773" align="alignleft" width="270"] Clear Lake Fire medics anxiously wait on shore as Ventura firefighters bring the lost kayaker to the shore Thursday night. -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.[/caption]

Rescuers successfully found a Garner woman who got lost while kayaking in the Ventura Marsh Thursday.  More than 12 hours after she set out, Rebecca Hejna, of Garner, was brought to shore shaken, but unharmed.

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department reports Henna, 53, had gone kayaking at 7 a.m.  Shortly before 8 p.m. the department was contacted by Scott Hejna, who was concerned his wife was missing.

Scott became suspicious when his wife did not come home at lunchtime.  He drove to various places Rebecca liked to kayak, but did not locate her.  He went to the Department of Natural Resources with his concerns.

The DNR had spotted Hejna’s truck by Ventura Marsh earlier in the day.  Sheriff’s deputies confirmed it was still there at 8 p.m. and alerted the Ventura Fire Department.  The Clear Lake Fire Department and Iowa State Patrol also assisted at the scene.

Hejna told reporters she became disoriented while kayaking.  After a few hours passed, she went to the shore of the marsh and tried to walk out of the area.  When she couldn’t find help, she returned to the kayak.  She eventually spotted the rescuers and began to shout “help.”

The team responded and found Hejna partially submerged in the kayak. She was assisted to shore and was evaluated by Clear Lake Fire medics and was released at the scene.