#Rescue - A man was rescued from the water in the Bristol Channel off the Vale of Glamorgan this afternoon (Friday 1 May) after his kayak capsized and sank.
Milford Haven Coastguard Operations Centre received multiple emergency calls at 12:26pm from concerned members of the public who could see two kayakers, one of whom was in the water.
The remaining kayaker was attempting to tow the man in the water back to shore but appeared to be having difficulties.
Milford Haven Coastguard sent the Porthcawl RNLI lifeboat and the Porthcawl Coastguard Search and Rescue Team to the scene.
While the lifeboat was on its way, further reports came in telling the coastguard that the man was on longer being towed to shore but was holding onto an oar and drifting eastwards into the Bristol Channel. Onlookers had lost sight of him.
The coastguard tasked the second Porthcawl RNLI lifeboat, Barry Dock RNLI Lifeboat, RAF Chivenor search and rescue helicopter R619 and the Llantwit Major Coastguard Search and Rescue Team.
Meanwhile, the coastguard received a new 999 call from a member of the public who could see the man adrift, and were able to direct one of the Porthcawl lifeboats to the man’s location.
The man was conscious but very cold, and was winched from the lifeboat by the helicopter and taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
“We were very relieved that the lifeboat was able to find the man in the water," said Johnathan Lewis of Milford Haven Coastguard.
"If you are going kayaking, always wear a buoyancy aid. Take at least a couple of means of calling for help with you. A VHF radio is ideal, backed up by mini marine flares and a mobile phone sealed inside a plastic bag."
