Four saved from sea in kayak rescue
An 11-year-old boy and three adults “could have died” had they not been rescued so quickly after their kayak sank at sea.
Coastguards said the lives of the kayakers could have been in danger if they had been in the water for just ten more minutes.
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Their cries for help were heard by a walker at Wembury Point, Plymouth, at around 1.20pm yesterday.
By then they had been in the water, where the temperature was 9C, for around 40 minutes.
Brixham Coastguard watch officer Matthew Thornhill said: “That boy was in the water for 40 minutes.
“Another ten minutes and his chances of survival would have dropped by 50 per cent.”
Brixham Coastguard sent out Plymouth’s inshore lifeboat, as well as an all-weather lifeboat and a rescue team.
Together, they managed to retrieve the four, who were 100 metres offshore.
The helicopter from Chivenor was on alert but was not needed.
The boy and the men were taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth by ambulance to be checked over, but Mr Thornhill said it was thought they would all be fine.
He speculated that the kayak may have sunk because the four passengers were too heavy.
“We understand that there were up to four people in a Canadian kayak, which has now sunk off Wembury Point,” he said.
“All are now safe after being rescued by the inshore lifeboat and taken to land. Two of the four, a father and son, have been taken to Derriford Hospital. It was very fortunate that a member of the public heard their cries for help, as they had been in the water for approximately 40 minutes.
“All four casualties were wearing buoyancy aides but had no means of contacting anyone or raising the alarm and were inappropriately dressed for the weather conditions on scene, which were force-three with a sea temperature of nine degrees.
“Had they been in the water any longer according to our data there was a 50 per cent chance of survival.”
He added: “We cannot stress how important it is to be properly prepared when out on the water.”
He urged water users to follow five key safety messages: Get trained; check the weather and tides; wear a lifejacket; avoid alcohol and keep in touch.
The warning comes a week after an experienced canoeist died while on a New Year’s Day paddle in Cornwall.
Dave Smith, 49, a qualified instructor from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, was on holiday with his family in Cornwall when he died during a trip to Golitho Falls on the edge of Bodmin Moor, near Liskeard.
Comments
by catcharat
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 3:31PM
“A copy of the email I have sent to the Western Morning News. They have chosen to ignore it like all good journalists would...
Dear Sir/Madam
I have just read today's Western Morning News and need to make clear there are factual untruths in your front page story 'Four saved from sea in Kayak rescue' which have caused an enormous amount of trouble. I was present on the scene and witnessed the events.
First and foremost the 11 year old boy was in the water for between 3 and 5 minutes, not 40 minutes as the article says. The boys father made sure the boy was first to be safetly plucked from the sea and swam towing the boy on the kayak safetly to the shore. The boys father then swam back out to sea to help resuce the other men who had indeed been in the water for about half an hour by that point.
All the kayakers were safely on the shore by the time the emergency services arrived- they were not rescued from 100 metres off shore by the inshore lifeboat and taken to land as your article states- they were already there.
Other inaccuracies in your story include:
There were 5 people not 4 (4 men, 1 child) of whom:
2 Adults were on sit on Kayaks
2 Adults and 1 child were in a 3 man canadian canoe (not 4 men who were too heavy for the boat as the article states)
The group were prepared for the trip with bouancy aids which they were wearing, waterproofs, mobile phones, water and food for the journey. Unfortunately when the boat was capsized by 3 large waves some of this equipment was lost. it was certainly not the case that the group were unprepared.
The 11 year old boy was taken to hospital as a precaution and did not require treatment. He was quickly discharged
Whilst we are graeful to the emergency services for responding the way they did we find is grossly inappropriate that the story has been reported this way.
I look forward to hearing back as to how you plan to deal with this
Kind regards”