Kayaker Rescued by Royal Navy Warship after Capsizing in the Solent
This morning UK Coastguard at Fareham received a spoken word mayday call from a kayaker who had fallen into the water in the Solent and was in distress. The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter, Hillhead Coastguard Rescue Team, and the Hamble and Calshot RNLI were scrambled to searched the area to locate the kayaker. Meanwhile a local warship HMS Smiter was in the area and joined in the rescue mission. The kayaker was found by the warship and recovered him on board. The man was than transferred to hospital by the coastguard rescue helicopter rescue 104 from Lee on the Solent. Matt West, UK Coastguard Controller said, ‘The hand held radio this kayaker used to call mayday via channel 16, saved his life. He is suffering from hypothermia but he is now at Southampton General receiving the treatment he needs. I would like to applaud him for having the correct safety equipment with him, and having the know how of how to use it and contact us.
