Lives saved
1
Boating
Ocean
Boat Sinking
Rogue wave
Personal Locator Beacon Leads Kayaker to Rescue
26.801820184551°N, -80.039745330811°W
Posted on March 9, 2023 by DAVID BREWER
What happened?
I am a 70 year old heart transplant recipient. When on a kayak fishing trip and on my return a rogue wave from a passing super yacht tipped my kayak over and it immediately sank. I attempted to tight the boat but it was to heavy for me and I had to give up. Thankfully I was wearing a personal locator beacon.
I didn’t know that my Personal Locator Beacon automatically activated when I hit the water. There was no one near to see what happened to me so I stayed with kayak as about a foot of the front of the boat was still afloat.
I had to wait but apparently the beacon went off it alerted the Coast Guard in Miami and the contacted local marine resources to rescue me. I was told they had activated a helicopter as well as marine units to the location my PLB went off. The next day they brought my kayak to the Coast Guard docks for me to take home.
Words of wisdom
Kayakers always wear a life jacket and if you don’t have one get a PLB and clip it to the vest. Don’t just have it in the kayak wear it. You will not be able to put it on if you are in the water.
Thank you note
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I would not have survived if not for the beacon.
Rescue location
Riviera Beach, FL, USA
Rescue team
Coast Guard
ResQLink™ 400
Go to product details$365.95
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