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Orewa Surf Life Saving Club volunteer lifeguards involved in kayak rescue (L to R) Faron Turner, Sarah Jenkinson and Shane Burke.

Media Advisory
January 28, 2008

Orewa Volunteer Lifeguards Rescue Kayaker

At 1630 this afternoon (January 28, 2008) three volunteer lifeguards from Orewa Surf Life Saving Club rescued a male kayaker that had tipped out from his kayak at 1130 this morning.

The 20-year-old kayaker had been fishing when his kayak was caught by a gust of wind and he was tipped out. He lost his kayak and had been drifting in the sea for five hours.

The kayaker was trying to swim to shore but was still 2.5km east of Orewa Surf Life Saving Club when he was spotted by lifeguards.

Lifeguards launched an IRB and rescued the exhausted and relieved kayaker.

Orewa Surf Life Saving Patrol Captain, Faron Turner, says the lifeguards saw splashing far out on the horizon and on checking with binoculars they could just make out a head bobbing in the sea.

“The kayaker is a lucky fellow. We brought him back to shore and although he was exhausted he was in good spirits. The fact he was wearing a lifejacket was his saving grace.”

ENDS

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