Lost at Sea: How a Locator Beacon Reunited a Family After a Kayak Mishap

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Lost at Sea: How a Locator Beacon Reunited a Family After a Kayak Mishap

Lost at Sea: How a Locator Beacon Reunited a Family After a Kayak Mishap
Lives saved

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Water-sports

Water-sports

Beach

Beach

Lost

Lost

Rogue wave

Rogue wave

Water-sports

Lost at Sea: How a Locator Beacon Reunited a Family After a Kayak Mishap

-41.263845477061°S, 173.25350592695°E

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Felix

What happened?

My son was visiting New Zealand for only a few weeks when I noticed some surfable waves rolling in from the house.

We decided to take advantage of the conditions and paddled out—he on a sit-on-top kayak and I on a SUP. Since the conditions were a bit rough, I equipped him with a ResQLink 400 PLB, a wetsuit, and a life jacket. To reach the offshore breaks faster, we crossed the small island to avoid the strong onshore wind. My son paddled out ahead of me and caught a wave, while I followed shortly after, only to see his kayak empty and drifting far away.

Panic set in as I paddled frantically to find him. I searched in widening circles but couldn’t spot him behind the big waves. Horrible thoughts raced through my mind—why did we go out in these conditions? The weather had turned bad. Had a shark attacked him, or had he hit his head and drowned?

I contacted emergency services and anxiously waited on the beach, listening to the rescue efforts on the radio alongside a police officer. Just as I was losing hope, I heard the officer say, “A locator beacon has been activated in the area!”

There was no one else out there—it had to be my son!

A strong tide had prevented him from swimming back to the island, so he let himself drift further out, activated the locator beacon, and waited. Half an hour later, we were reunited on shore. My son, cold but otherwise unharmed, was picked up far out at sea by a surf life-saving boat.

Our ordeal was over, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Nelson Surf Lifesaving, the Coast Guard, the Harbor Master, the rescue helicopter, and the Police SAR.

I cannot express how thankful I am to everyone involved, including emergency services, volunteers, and my mother, who gave me the PLB!

Ngā mihi,

Tomas and Felix

Words of wisdom

Always have a functioning leash on a sit on top kayak, in case you fall out in rough seas. And of course a PLB, which enabled my son’s life to be rescued.

Thank you note

Thank you for making it possible to save my 17 year old son’s life!  Loosing him in the waves, contacting emergency services  and then waiting for the rescue was the absolute longest, worst and most horrifying experience in my life.

Rescue location

P7P3+FC Glenduan, Nelson, New Zealand

Rescue team

Coast Guard

Sale!

ResQLink™ 400

Go to product details

$379.95$394.95

Small but resilient, the ResQLink 400 has been professionally engineered and tested to ensure it can withstand even the harshest elements. This buoyant Personal Locator Beacon requires no subscription for use and can be utilized to enhance your safety in a wide variety of environments. Whether on land, at sea, or in the air, trust that the ResQLink’s satellite precision and military durability, put rescue in the palm of your hands.

 

Features and Benefits:

  • No Subscription Required
  • GPS and Galileo GNSS
  • Built-In Buoyancy
  • Strobe and Infrared Strobe
  • Global Coverage
  • MEOSAR Compatible
  • Small and lightweight
  • 5-year battery life
  • 24+ hours Operational Life**
  • Multi-function Clip System Included
**Based on test report from an accredited laboratory   WARNING: PROP 65   
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