Kayaker in trouble rescued by Hayling Island RNLI Lifeboat.
A kayaker went fishing on Friday 21 June off Hayling Island but felt unwell and fell out of his kayak, lost consciousness and was rescued by the Hayling RNLI Lifeboat.
The man launched his kayak on a fine evening, anchored about 500m from the shore and started fishing. After a while he felt sick and leant over the side of the kayak but fell in. Fortunately he was able to hang onto the boat but couldn’t get back in. His father on shore saw that he was in trouble and phoned the Coastguard who called out the RNLI Lifeboat and ‘Derrick Battle’ the Atlantic 85 was launched.
Quickly on scene the lifeboat crew pulled the man on board to find him wet and cold. He momentarily lost consciousness, then came round and was sick again. He seemed to have swallowed a lot of seawater and so was put on oxygen and the lifeboat crew radioed for an ambulance to meet them at the Lifeboat Station. Once ashore he was stretchered to the crew room and monitored by the shore crew until the ambulance arrived by which time his vital signs had improved.
He was taken to hospital and the lifeboat returned to retrieve his kayak and stored it for safe keeping. His father collected his belongings and wet clothes and the lifeboat was made ready for service. A good service, saving a life and with all agencies and crew working well together.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.