10 Jun 2014

Rescued kayaker 'lucky to be found'

4:29 pm on 10 June 2014

Police in Northland say the actions of a man who had to be rescued after he went out in his kayak in atrocious conditions were bordering on stupid.

They said the man in his 60s was kayaking home from the oil refinery at Marsden Point about 6.30pm on Monday, across the Whangarei Harbour, when he was blown out to sea in strong winds.

Police launched a search, with the Whangarei Coastguard and the Northland Emergency Services Trust Helicopter.

He was found at about 1am on Tuesday, around 1.5 kilometres off the coast near Ruakaka Beach.

Police said heavy rain, gale force winds and atrocious sea conditions had been forecast and the man put the lives of his rescuers at risk. They said he was extremely lucky to be found.