Kayak fisherman found 'cold and wet' after hours in ocean Firth of Thames

Wednesday, 21 June 2017

​A kayak fisherman who capsized on the Firth of Thames was found hypothermic on the shore after hours in the ocean.

The 47-year-old set off for a day's kayak fishing, parking his car in the carpark at Te Mata at 1pm on Tuesday, Senior Sergeant Ray Malcolmson of Waikato police said. 

He was heading for the mussel farm, Malcolmson said, and was described as being 'well prepared' with high visibility clothing and a cellphone onboard. 

But around 3pm his kayak capsized, sending him into the ocean.

'It was before dark and he hadn't come back so his wife reported him missing at 8pm.'

'His vehicle was found at the boat ramp where he was parked.'

A sea and air search was launched involving the Thames Coastguard, Auckland-Coromandel Westpac helicopter and search and rescue, Malcolmson said. 

As the helicopter scoured the Firth of Thames, focusing on the area around Waikawau on the west coast, crew received a call at 10.40pm advising them of a person attempting to get their attention from the shoreline. 

'The helicopter landed at Kereta and uplifted a male patient, in his 40s, who was the missing kayaker,' helicopter crew said in a statement.

His kayak had capsized at around 3pm and he had used his partially submerged kayak to paddle to shore.

'Unfortunately his mobile phone had become waterlogged, despite being in a waterproof pouch. He was not wearing a wetsuit.'

 A bystander had come across the man and had used a torch, turning it off and on, to get emergency services' attention.

Helicopter crewman, Mark Cannell said the kayaker was 'hypothermic, distressed and extremely fatigued' after being in the water for so long.

'He was an extremely lucky guy.'

The man was flown to Thames Hospital in a moderate condition.