Beacon saves stranded kayaker
Published: January 29, 2005
A personal beacon led rescuers to a man who clung to his upturned sea kayak for four hours off Tasmania’s north-east coast.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesman Ben Mitchell said the man was paddling from Little Musselroe Bay to Clarke Island when his kayak capsized in the Banks Strait about 7.30pm (AEDT) yesterday.
The 49-year-old Victorian man clung to the kayak until his was picked up four hours later by a local fishing vessel, Mr Mitchell said.
“He activated a beacon signal about 7.30pm last night and we launched an aircraft from Launceston, and then from Melbourne, which was equipped with night vision equipment.
“The Launceston aircraft located the beacon in the water and the (crew on the) Melbourne aircraft was able to see the man clinging to his upturned kayak.”
The fishing boat rescued the man about 11.30pm, and transferred him to a Tasmania Police launch, Mr Mitchell said.
“The man suffered minor exposure but was otherwise safe and well,” he said.
The man was “well equipped” for the kayak trip in the area because he was carrying a radio as well as his personal beacon, Mr Mitchell said.
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