A MAN WAS rescued today after he was found by the Youghal RNLI clinging to his kayak off Redbarn beach in Cork.
His kayak had been tipped over and he was said to have been in serious difficulty.
The RNLI said they had no doubt that a “life was saved”.
A member of the Youghal coast guard had been driving by the beach and saw what looked like someone in difficulty in the water. Another member of the public also raised the alarm.
The RNLI received the call, and a volunteer crew was dispatched at 2pm today.
The lifeboat crew saw the kayaker clinging to the board that he’d fallen from. He was unable to get back into the kayak, and had been in the cold sea for almost 45 minutes before the crew made it to him and rescued him.
The man was showing signs of hypothermia and was attended to by a doctor from the East Cork Rapid Response. He has since been transferred to Cork University Hospital.
The RNLI said that the fact he was wearing a lifejacket was vital.
Derry Walsh, Youghal RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: “The kayaker who was wearing a lifejacket when he got into difficulty this afternoon, had been in the water for a long time before he was spotted and he was suffering from hypothermia when we reached him.
Time was of the essence and I have no doubt that a life was saved.
“Our crew responded rapidly and used their skills and training to administer casualty care. The kayaker was lucky today and all at Youghal RNLI would like to wish him a speedy recovery following his ordeal.”
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