PLB1 Helps Rescue Kayaker in the UK

What happened?

I had started solo sea kayaking on the west coast of Scotland and, as a precaution, I bought a PLB1 locator beacon to carry as part of my safety equipment.

On May 20, 2022, I was kayaking with my friend Rod in the Solent. As the afternoon went on, the wind increased far beyond the forecast. While paddling over the Winner sand bank, about a mile or so off the south coast of Hayling Island, the conditions became dangerous.

We had been using sails on our kayaks, but I had stopped using mine. Rod’s sail was still up, and it began carrying him away from me. In the heavy conditions, I quickly lost sight of him.

I tried to raise Rod on my VHF but could not reach him. I paddled back toward the area where I had last seen him, but I still could not find him.

Realizing how serious the situation had become, I made a Mayday call on my VHF using MIPDANIO, but only received a vague response. At that point, I activated my PLB1.

Soon after, the Coast Guard contacted me on the VHF. We exchanged the full details of the distress situation, and they confirmed that help was on the way. They advised me to head to the beach at Hayling Island and make myself safe, which I did.

When I arrived at the beach, a member of the Coast Guard told me Rod had been picked up. About 10 minutes later, he was brought to the beach on an RNLI craft with his kayak. A helicopter had also been sent out.

Rod had been knocked over and had managed a re-entry roll, but his kayak was full of water. With waves breaking over him, he could not stay in the kayak and was beginning to suffer from hypothermia.

I am sure the PLB1, the VHF, and my ability to use them properly probably saved Rod.

Words of wisdom

Prepare for your sea kayaking trip with full details of weather, tide and location

Thank you note to the Ocean Signal team

The PLB1 is an essential bit of kit when Sea Kayaking, especially when solo and in areas where a VHF signal cannot be relied upon. It easily fits into a buoyancy aid and is straight forward to use in an emergency.