Capsized kayaker rescued by Redcar RNLI
Date: 25/03/2011
Author: Dave Cocks, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
A kayaker was rescued from the sea off Redcar today (Friday 25 March 2011) by RNLI lifeboat after he capsized, leaving him clinging to the upturned craft.
The alarm was raised just after 4pm when the kayak was seen to be upturned by waves, approximately a quarter of a mile from the lifeboat station on the Esplanade, Redcar.
Coas****ch Redcar contacted Humber Coastguard who requested the launch of the Redcar RNLI inshore lifeboat Jacky Hunsley.
The man was quickly found and brought ashore to the lifeboat station where crew members and the RNLI doctor gave first aid and carried out medical checks.
Dave Cocks from Redcar RNLI said: 'The man was picked up about a quarter of a mile out from the lifeboat station. The incoming tide was causing a bit of a jumble of waves and his kayak was hit side-on by a wave, making it overturn.
'Luckily he was spotted in the water and the lifeboat was quickly on scene.
'He was shivering violently and he told the crew he had inhaled some seawater, so we called for our doctor to give him a check-over. Fortunately his lungs were clear.'
The man, aged 55 years from Middlesbrough, told the RNLI crew he had been fishing from the kayak when the wave struck. He had been immersed in the sea for around 10 minutes, clinging to the capsized kayak, before he was able to right it and climb back on board.
Dave Cocks added: 'The man was well equipped as far as wearing a buoyancy aid and wetsuit, but he only had a mobile phone to raise the alarm and that had become waterlogged.
'We always advise anyone who goes out on the sea to take a waterproof marine VHF radio to raise the alarm, and to get proper training in how to use it. The radio puts the person in trouble in direct contact with the coastguards who can then direction-find their location, making rescue much more straightforward.'
posted on web site
Yes, it was me and, of course I wish the incident hadn't happened in the first place. I must also apologise for any damage to the reputation of kayak angler members that it may have caused.
Let me just say that I will get a marine vhf radio before I venture out there again and I'm going to go back to the RNLI lifeboat station and thank Dave Cocks and his excellent team once again. It was hard to do that properly at the time due to the shivering.
I realise now that it was a mistake not to carry this essential piece of equipment and I was under the illusion that my mobile phone in it's not-so waterproof case would suffice due to the fact that I've used it hundreds of times before whilst fishing off my stretch of coast and never once had a problem with reception. Unfortunately though, just the once could be enough to make the difference between life and death.
The RNLI press release is spot on but unfortunately, the Evening Gazette have gone totally over the top with their report and it has already caused problems for friends and family who are grieving over a recent loss. One of the volunteers at Redcar RNLI has offered to give me instruction on using a VHF radio when I've bought one. Please can anyone recommend a good one which is reasonably price
Date: 25/03/2011
Author: Dave Cocks, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
A kayaker was rescued from the sea off Redcar today (Friday 25 March 2011) by RNLI lifeboat after he capsized, leaving him clinging to the upturned craft.
The alarm was raised just after 4pm when the kayak was seen to be upturned by waves, approximately a quarter of a mile from the lifeboat station on the Esplanade, Redcar.
Coas****ch Redcar contacted Humber Coastguard who requested the launch of the Redcar RNLI inshore lifeboat Jacky Hunsley.
The man was quickly found and brought ashore to the lifeboat station where crew members and the RNLI doctor gave first aid and carried out medical checks.
Dave Cocks from Redcar RNLI said: 'The man was picked up about a quarter of a mile out from the lifeboat station. The incoming tide was causing a bit of a jumble of waves and his kayak was hit side-on by a wave, making it overturn.
'Luckily he was spotted in the water and the lifeboat was quickly on scene.
'He was shivering violently and he told the crew he had inhaled some seawater, so we called for our doctor to give him a check-over. Fortunately his lungs were clear.'
The man, aged 55 years from Middlesbrough, told the RNLI crew he had been fishing from the kayak when the wave struck. He had been immersed in the sea for around 10 minutes, clinging to the capsized kayak, before he was able to right it and climb back on board.
Dave Cocks added: 'The man was well equipped as far as wearing a buoyancy aid and wetsuit, but he only had a mobile phone to raise the alarm and that had become waterlogged.
'We always advise anyone who goes out on the sea to take a waterproof marine VHF radio to raise the alarm, and to get proper training in how to use it. The radio puts the person in trouble in direct contact with the coastguards who can then direction-find their location, making rescue much more straightforward.'
posted on web site
Yes, it was me and, of course I wish the incident hadn't happened in the first place. I must also apologise for any damage to the reputation of kayak angler members that it may have caused.
Let me just say that I will get a marine vhf radio before I venture out there again and I'm going to go back to the RNLI lifeboat station and thank Dave Cocks and his excellent team once again. It was hard to do that properly at the time due to the shivering.
I realise now that it was a mistake not to carry this essential piece of equipment and I was under the illusion that my mobile phone in it's not-so waterproof case would suffice due to the fact that I've used it hundreds of times before whilst fishing off my stretch of coast and never once had a problem with reception. Unfortunately though, just the once could be enough to make the difference between life and death.
The RNLI press release is spot on but unfortunately, the Evening Gazette have gone totally over the top with their report and it has already caused problems for friends and family who are grieving over a recent loss. One of the volunteers at Redcar RNLI has offered to give me instruction on using a VHF radio when I've bought one. Please can anyone recommend a good one which is reasonably price
glad your ok, but can we have names amount of fish caught details of your catch and pics before you capsized lol
lol ..........
