2 weeks Ago
Poole lifeboats were called out by HM Coastguard at around 2.30pm on Friday, March 14, following reports of a person on an inflatable kayak who had drifted towards Old Harry Rocks. A beachgoer had raised the alarm after losing sight of the kayaker.
Lifeboat crews carried out a search from Old Harry Rocks back to Westcliff, while a Shannon class lifeboat that was passing through the area was also tasked to assist. Poole and Southbourne Coastguard teams joined the search. The blue and grey kayak was finally spotted but the kayaker had ended up in the water.
Lifeboat crews pulled the casualty from the water and carried out a care assessment. The individual was extremely cold and had ingested water. They were brought back to the lifeboat station, where ambulance crews were waiting to take them to hospital.
Poole lifeboat volunteer Jonathan Clark said: “Thankfully, the first informant quickly alerted the coastguard when they saw the kayaker being blown offshore and out of sight. “He was very lucky to be found on that leg of the search, as the weather conditions were exceptionally cold – the outcome could have been very different.”.
