Kayak Rescue

Thursday 15th December 2011
Time: 10:46 - 11:24

At 1046 HM Yarmouth Coastguard called the coxswain to launch the ALB to reports of a man in a yellow kayak on Scroby. Report described a yellow kayak and stated that the casualty was wearing a dry suit.

The Bernard Matthews II was launched at 1050 with Coxswain Paul Williams at the wheel, with crew 33 Marcus Brown, 25 Andrew Turner, 27 Johnny Banyard, 12 Lee Brown and Noel Bartram, the chief executive of Bernard Matthews who had visited the lifeboat station to present the crew with a turkey for Christmas. Tractor driver was Ali Brown.

The coordinates of 52.60.6 N; 001.78.6E were given by the coastguard which did not correspond with the location given verbally by the casualty, who reported being on Scroby near the seals.

At 1058 the crew first sighted the casualty standing on the north end of the South Scroby bank and proceeded to the location.

Crew Andrew Turner put on the drysuit and entered the water to assist the casualty to the boat, with his kayak.

The casualty was a Chris Roberts, from Cobholm, who had launched off the North Denes Coastwatch Tower in Great Yarmouth at about 0830 to 0900.

He said: “I was planning to fish from the end of the Scroby but got taken by the wind and tide. I got to safety on the bank.

At 1124 the Bernard Matthews II returned ashore, was refuelled and reported back on service at 1236.