[A]t 9:25am on Saturday 16 September the volunteers from St Bees RNLI were tasked to rescue a kayaker who had got into difficulties attempting a crossing to the Isle of Man. Their colleagues from Workington, Barrow, Douglas and Ramsey RNLI, as well as the Coastguards Search and Rescue helicopter, and Maryport Inshore Rescue boat soon joined them.
The volunteer RNLI crews from Cumbria and the Isle of Man were paged around 9:30am on Saturday to go to the assistance of the lone kayaker who had capsized in choppy seas five miles west of St Bees Head.
St Bees and Workington RNLI were the first lifeboats to arrive in the area where the casualty estimated his position to be, they started a search pattern co-ordinated by Belfast Coastguard. Unfortunately the kayak did not carry a VHF radio or any distress flares making it very difficult to locate him. Volunteers from Barrow, Douglas and Ramsey RNLI were also requested to launch, and were joined in the search by the Coastguards Search and Rescue helicopter as well as Maryport’s Inshore Rescue boat. Whitehaven HM Coastguard took up vantage points along St Bees Head also trying to locate the capsized boat.
Following an extensive search of a wide area lasting nearly two hours, the helicopter located the kayaker and his boat, and proceeded to winch him aboard. The fortunate kayaker was none the worse for his experience and did not require any medical attention. He was taken by helicopter to Workington RNLI’s lifeboat station and given a shower and hot drink. Workington’s new Shannon lifeboat picked up his kayak and reunited it with its owner back at their station.
Dick Beddows, St Bees RNLI Operation Manager said: “It was great to see five lifeboats, the Coastguard and an independent lifeboat all working together to achieve a great outcome; it could have ended very differently. It was good to see that the kayaker was wearing all the correct safely equipment which undoubtedly helped save his life, but a VHF radio and a small pack of distress flares would have made locating him a lot quicker.”
A spokesman for Whitehaven Coastguard said: “Initially St Bees RNLI and Workington Lifeboat, along with Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 from Prestwick joined us for the search.
“Shortly afterwards, assistance was requested for Barrow Lifeboat, Ramsey Lifeboat and Douglas Lifeboats to join the search.
“Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 located the casualty within the search area after approximate 2 hours into the search.
“The casualty was found to be on top of his upturned kayak and once winched aboard the helicopter was found to be slightly cold but not requiring any medical attention.
“Workington Lifeboat recovered the kayak and the helicopter transferred the casualty to Workington where they were met by Maryport Coastguard Rescue Team.”
In a coastal, sea or cliff emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
