3 tourists die in whirlpool in U.S. California river

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Three visitors from the U.S. state of Utah on a canyoneering expedition along a river in California died when two tried to save the third from a whirlpool, according to a report by the SFGATE on Monday.

The incident took place Friday on the Seven Teacups Trail along the Kern River, the Tulare County Fire Department said. The Kern River is about a 70-mile drive northeast of Bakersfield.

The victims were part of a group exploring the Tulare County trail on Friday afternoon. Others on the expedition pulled the three from the water and tried to revive them, but the three friends all died, according to the report.