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A man spent around 40 terrifying minutes in the water after he fell from his kayak near Leasowe Lighthouse yesterday (September 16).
As reported by the Wirral Globe, the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team was called to the lighthouse after reports of a man struggling in the water. Officers arrived as he reached the shore and helped him first before recovering the kayak onto the nearby promenade.
The man reportedly told officers he had been drinking before his fall. He said he spent around 40 minutes in the water, some of that time included him floating on his back. Officers gave him safety and care advice at the scene.
A member of the public witnessed the man in difficulty before officers arrived and remained on scene throughout. He provided information to the Coastguard Coordination Centre about what happened. Teams said this information proved extremely valuable while rescue resources were travelling to the incident.
RNLI New Brighton Lifeboat Station and RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Station's hovercraft were also tasked but stood down after the man was confirmed safe ashore.
The lifeboat teams also worked together recently on a harrowing eight-hour recovery mission of an unmanned kayak that was drifting towards Queen's Channel. The route is a popular shipping route for vessels in the River Mersey.
The Coastguard Officer in Charge, Paul Ambrose, said the man was lucky the outgoing tide brought him towards the shore.
"A big thank you goes to the first informant, who remained at the location, kept eyes on the male while he was in the water and provided accurate information to our Coastguard Coordination Centre throughout the incident," he said.
"One thing the casualty did correctly was float on his back when he found himself in difficulty. If you find yourself struggling in the water, try not to panic. Float on your back with your arms and legs spread out like a starfish, concentrate on controlling your breathing and call for help if you can."
Mr Ambrose urged anyone heading out on the water to always wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device, adding that accidents can happen even in familiar waters.
He also urged the public not to drink and go in the water, as alcohol can affect a person's judgement in crisis. He added that if conditions had been worse or no witnesses had seen the man in difficulty, the incident "could have had a very different outcome".
