21 Jun 2017

Kayaker spends seven hours in the ocean after capsizing

12:09 pm on 21 June 2017

A kayaker who spent seven hours in the water off the Coromandel coast after capsizing was "extremely lucky" to survive, say rescuers.

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Photo: 123rf.com

The rescue helicopter and the coastguard started searching for the missing fisherman, aged in his 40s, off the Coromandel coast at 10pm last night.

But a bystander found him on the shore at Kereta, north of Thames, and alerted emergency services.

The helicopter crew said the man capsized about 3pm and he used his partially submerged kayak to paddle to shore.

The man, who was not wearing a wetsuit, was described as hypothermic, obviously distressed and extremely fatigued.

He was flown to Thames Hospital in a moderate condition.