Lucky kayaker

[Malish]

British kayaker saved after days clinging to buoy in Channel

Beggars belief tbh, in some ways I hope the news report is inaccurate, otherwise this was one lucky chap.

 

[mjcoon]

British kayaker saved after days clinging to buoy in Channel

Beggars belief tbh, in some ways I hope the news report is in accurate, otherwise this was one lucky chap.

Even in that report there are different accounts of how long he might have been on his buoy!

 

[jamie N]

Y'know what, something doesn't seem quite right about this story?

 

[Leighb]

48 hours without water is possible, and he might have had a bottle with him to start with, but 12 days is I think beyond survival, altho' people can be surprising. I am sure that someone will know when he departed from Dover.

 

[Biggles Wader]

I doubt he departed from Dover harbour or someone would have noticed and made enquiries. More likely used a secluded beach. Has he claimed asylum in France BTW?

 

[Malish]

"I picked up the binoculars and saw a young man just in his swimming trunks waving at us like a madman," he told De Telegraaf website.

I know it is unseasonably warm but.... how long had he been there

 

[LadyInBed]

When he gets the bill from the Dutch Air Sea Rescue, that will wipe the smile off his face!

 

[KevinV]

Y'know what, something doesn't seem quite right about this story?

You mean things like:
- setting off in a kayak in October in your trunks?
- not being attached to your kayak ?
- abandoning said kayak, your only means of getting home under your own steam?
- getting that far against the prevailing currents and wind?
- eating salty foods when you have no fresh water available?
Not saying it's all not possible - except being there 12 days, then being capable of waving while going up in the helicopter - I don't believe that for a second. There is however a real disconnect between things only an experienced kayaker would attempt, and apparently really stupid things done that only a rank amateur would do - it'll be interesting if there's a follow up on this.

 

[Leighb]

When he gets the bill from the Dutch Air Sea Rescue, that will wipe the smile off his face!

It was a Dutch fishing boat, but a French SAR helicopter that flew him to Dieppe. Not sure either would charge in case of genuine life saving?

 

[Leighb]

You mean things like:
- setting off in a kayak in October in your trunks?
- not being attached to your kayak ?
- abandoning said kayak, your only means of getting home under your own steam?
- getting that far against the prevailing currents and wind?
- eating salty foods when you have no fresh water available?
There's a real disconnect between things only an experienced kayaker would attempt, and apparently really stupid things done that only a rank amateur would do - it'll be interesting if there's a follow up on this.

But people do “really stupid” things all the time. Sometimes they get away with it and others they, or others, pay with their lives.

 

[KevinV]

But people do “really stupid” things all the time. Sometimes they get away with it and others they, or others, pay with their lives.

True ?‍

 

[Juan Twothree]

48 hours without water is possible, and he might have had a bottle with him to start with, but 12 days is I think beyond survival, altho' people can be surprising. I am sure that someone will know when he departed from Dover.

Absolutely. I called BS on this story when I saw it yesterday. Three days without water is just about survivable. Twelve days? No. Although maybe that detail got misunderstood in translation.

The RNLI is already being slated on social media for not having found him, as they were "obviously too busy rescuing migrants". Despite the fact that no one knew he was missing, he hadn't called for help, and he was within French waters.

 

[LadyInBed]

It was a Dutch fishing boat, but a French SAR helicopter that flew him to Dieppe. Not sure either would charge in case of genuine life saving?

If French SAR, doesn't that make a bill more likely? ?

 

[DownWest]

His Kayak was inflatable in the report I saw? So likely it deflated. But all sounded odd.

Three friends were helioed by the French SAR to hospital after they capsized and could not right it. Fired off their flares and the local island ferry saw them and fished them out. Just in case, they had called the SAR, and it was decided to have them checked out.
The Gendarmes du Mer recovered the boat and left it on a mooring after collecting most of the bits that floated off.
Neither service would charge for their efforts. Even refused a donation to the widows and orphans fund.

Normally the services save lives for free, but charge for saving property.

 

[mjcoon]

But people do “really stupid” things all the time. Sometimes they get away with it and others they, or others, pay with their lives.

But does he rate a Darwin Award? No, from wikipedia.org/Darwin_Awards: 'Accidental self-sterilization also qualifies, but the site notes: "Of necessity, the award is usually bestowed posthumously."'

 

[Leighb]

But does he rate a Darwin Award? No, from wikipedia.org/Darwin_Awards: 'Accidental self-sterilization also qualifies, but the site notes: "Of necessity, the award is usually bestowed posthumously."'

That is absolutely correct, as the award is for ”removing onself from the gene pool” and as he survived and is still, presumably, of reproductive age, does not qualify.

 

[mjcoon]

That is absolutely correct, as the award is for ”removing onself from the gene pool” and as he survived and is still, presumably, of reproductive age, does not qualify.

He was damaged, or at least bruised. But sterilisation is, I presume, rare...

 

[arcot]

At night 2 days ago
2 kayakers rescued one in water
other in flooded kayak
off Dodds Narrows
near Nanaimo BC
thanks to headlamps worn by both
a small tug saw the dim lights on the water where there should have been no lights........

 

[LittleSister]

I've long had a fearful image of somehow ending up clinging to a buoy, and hoping, against the odds, to be spotted.

Another report here - seems relatively well informed (despite the inappropriate photo), and says it was two days.
He flees England by kayak and finds himself stuck on a buoy at sea

Even if it were two days, he looks in surprisingly good condition in the photo in the twitter post in the article linked by the OP. After a long paddle , some time in the water, and two days clinging to a buoy, I imagine one would have to somehow find a last burst of remaining depleted strength to get to and cling to the rescue float. I find it surprising he would be in any fit state to sit upright and lift a bottle of water high to put it to his mouth.

I'm puzzled how he could have got up onto the buoy from the water, which I imagine from its position is a very large one. They tend to be tall, covered in weed, barnacles and guano. I don't recall such buoys usually having steps, but perhaps they do. Did he perhaps climb onto the buoy from the kayak (which would be easier than from the water, but still, I imagine, a challenge), then lost hold of the kayak?

Whatever, he was very, very lucky to be spotted and to survive the ordeal.

 

[Juan Twothree]

I'm puzzled how he could have got up onto the buoy from the water, which I imagine from its position is a very large one. They tend to be tall, covered in weed, barnacles and guano. I don't recall such buoys usually having steps, but perhaps they do. Did he perhaps climb onto the buoy from the kayak (which would be easier than from the water, but still, I imagine, a challenge), then lost hold of the kayak?

This photo was posted with one of the accounts of the rescue.
Don't know if it's the N cardinal in question, not my bit of sea
I read that he'd climbed onto the buoy from the kayak, which then got punctured in the process.