April 11 2012.


Volunteers from Newhaven's RNLI lifeboat station were tasked at 14:22 on Sunday 8th April to a kayaker who had capsized and was unable to get back on his kayak. The casualty managed to make it ashore but was then cut off by the tide.

A group of three kayaks had left Cuckmere heading towards Seaford. Once the capsized casualty was ashore the other kayaks made it back to the Cuckmere where they raised the alarm.

Newhaven's all-weather Seven Class lifeboat 'RNLB David and Elizabeth Acland arrived on scene at 14:43 and spotted the unmanned kayak with the casualty on the shore further to the west.

The Newhaven lifeboat launched its inflatable "Y boat" which recovered both the kayak and the casualty. The casualty was checked over and found to be cold but ok and was taken to the Martello Tower at Seaford where Newhaven Coastguard were waiting to assist. The lifeboat then returned to station at 15:38.

A lifeboat spokesman explained that it is recommended that a waterproof VHF radio is carried when kayaking at sea.