Local brothers die in canoe accident

Two local men were pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose after their canoe reportedly capsized on the Lexington Reservoir on Sunday, May 5.
According to Deputy Kurtis Stenderup of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received a 911 call at about 1 p.m. Sunday that Felton resident Nicholas Nell, 35, and his brother Raymond Nell, 30, of Scotts Valley, did not make it to shore after their canoe overturned.
The men were canoeing with their two younger siblings.
“We’re not sure what caused the canoe to capsize,” Stenderup said.
The younger siblings, ages 16 and 25, both reached shore and were uninjured, he said. The four occupants of the canoe were not wearing life preservers.
According to Stenderup, Nicholas Nell was found by rescuers within an hour of the 911 call, and Raymond Nell was found at approximately 5 p.m. Both men were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, where each was pronounced dead.
Stenderup said an investigation into the accident was ongoing and a coroner’s report was expected.