East Lothian lifeboat crews race to rescue capsized kayaker
The North Berwick RNLI crew were alerted to the incident after concerned members of the public called the coastguard to report that a kayak had capsized at around 7.29pm on Saturday, July 26.
Volunteer crew members jumped into action, leaving the North Berwick Pipe Band's 125 th Anniversary, making their way through crowds on foot and bike to help the person in distress. Once on the water, the crew were on the scene within 7 minutes and the Aberdeen Coastguard Rescue Coordination Centre were able to direct them to the casualty.
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Matthew Gibbons, volunteer helm at North Berwick said 'With the glare of the low sun, and the size of the waves the casualty was hard to spot, They had also drifted about half a nautical mile from the first reported position.'
'Despite being a little tired from grappling with the slippery kayak for at least half an hour, the casualty was fit and well. We thank the members of the public who called 999 for the Coastguard straight away, which enable a swift and successful outcome for the casualty.'
'If you're heading out on the water, even the most experienced of us can get caught out by the conditions. Always wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid, carry a waterproofed means of calling for help and tell someone ashore of your plans. If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, try not to panic, but float on your back to conserve energy.'
The casualty was checked over before being landed ashore at Yellowcraig Beach and handed into the care of North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team and awaiting family.
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