Devon, UK

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Devon, UK

Devon, UK
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Ocean

Ocean

Boat Sinking

Boat Sinking

Devon, UK

50.7155591°N, -3.530875°W

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Matt Windsor

What happened?

On Saturday 19/06/2021 I decided to take my new kayak out for my first time, although I have tried it on lakes and rivers this was my first outing to the ocean. I left for a small coastal village of coombe Martin i Devon, United Kingdom. everything started fine but the weather quickly changed and I decided to seek shelter in a nearby bay about a mile from the point I launched from.

tired from the rough paddle I wanted to anchor my kayak and wait for the wind to change and ride back the incoming tide, I reached round the back of my kayak to grab my anchor and as I did the kayak capsized and I ended up in the cold water. I was tired and the rough conns made a self rescue impossible I tried for 20 minutes without success so I made the decision to swim to the small cluster of rocks 100 meters away half way there I realised I couldn’t make it and panic set it battered and bruised from holding onto the kayak, jelly fish stings to my legs and now hyperthermic I reached for my VHF but had no reception so I pulled my ACR resQlink view out and deployed it. I again made one last attempt for shore and made it just as a coastguard helicopter arrived on scene followed by 2 life boats. I expected a long wait and emotionally I was broken the resQlink not only worked it was so fast I was inside a rescue boat and being taken back to safety within just 10 mins of raising the alarm! ACR and the resQlink is the reason I survived to tell my story! I lost my beacon in the rescue but will never go anywhere again without buying a new one. when there is no signal or anyone around an ACR beacon can and will save your life I am living proof of that! Thank you ACR

Words of wisdom

No matter what your experience level, never take for granted that Mother Nature is a powerful force. Things change quickly. Taking the right safety gear is essential to ensure you stay safe! Pack a beacon on all trips, land and sea, to ensure you always return home.

Thank you note

Thank you ACR. The team that makes the beacons and safety equipment will never know how much they change lives. Without my ACR ResQLink View I wouldn’t be here; my kids would have lost a dad, and my parents a son! I will be forever in your debt and will ensure all my friends carry a PLB to ensure they always stay safe. The ResQLink is a bit of equipment no one should be without. Thank you thank you thank you, ACR!

Rescue location

Devon, UK

Rescue team

Coast Guard

C-Strobes

Go to product details

$24.99$29.99

The compact, rugged, and waterproof C-Strobe (non-water activated) and C-Strobe H2O (water activated) are USCG/SOLAS approved and have a 45 lumen LED that typically operates for 120 hours continuously in strobe mode. These personal distress strobe lights feature an impact resistant case - making them reliable, multi-purpose lights whenever efficient distress lighting is needed.   WARNING: PROP 65    
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