Kayaker thankful for ‘lucky escape’
AN EXPERIENCED kayaker is warning islanders to be careful on the water, after he and his 13-year-old son were swept off their kayak and badly battered on rocks in the channel between Guernsey and Lihou island.
The incident was one of two call outs for the RNLI over the weekend to help kayakers, following a change in the weather.
Oliver Brock, 42, and his son Daniel, 13, were left bruised following the experience on Saturday morning, but fortunately managed to escape serious injury.
Mr Brock, who is a seasoned amateur sea kayaker, with nine years’ experience on the waters off Guernsey, said he was keen for his experience to help guide others when taking to the water.
‘I am sharing this in case anyone thinks that the sea is just a fun and benign playground, in case anyone thinks it won’t happen to them, or in case anyone thinks proper safety equipment, preparation and back-up plans are over-the-top for a short paddle in Guernsey’s waters,’ he said.
‘Fortunately, and more by luck than anything else, we didn’t place anyone else’s life in danger to rescue us. Please always consider that if you get into trouble on the water there are those who are prepared to do just that, and that their bravery and commitment shouldn’t ever be taken for granted. I very much regret having made my decision without having considered the possible consequences for others should things have gone awry. Please don’t make the same mistake.’
Mr Brock kayaked over to Lihou in calm conditions on Thursday evening to spend a couple of days with his family at the house.
On Saturday morning he and his eldest son had planned to kayak back to the mainland before the causeway opened to allow them to catch a lunchtime flight to Exeter for a Scouting event.
However the weather had changed.
‘The wind had got up overnight and there had been some rain,’ Mr Brock said.
‘There was quite a swell and that was something I had not factored in.’
From an elevated the position, the water did not look bad. Mr Brock knew there was a westerly wind, so he thought if they did come out they would be swept towards the mainland.
It was not until they were paddling across the channel they realised how big the swell was, with waves up to eight- or nine-feet tall.
The pair were prepared, with safety ropes on the kayak and helmets and buoyancy aids. They also had a phone, a whistle and a survival bag.
They tipped out two thirds of the way across and found they could not get back onto the boat. Fortunately they were on a sit-on kayak, which meant the upturned vessel could be used to support them.
‘[We used the kayak to] break the force of the waves, being rolled and tumbled each time another washed over us, knowing the current and waves would eventually get us to shore, or spit us out into calmer waters further north,’ Mr Brock said.
They were thrown onto a rocky outcrop for a few moments of respite, but were then dragged off. The pair managed to get hold of another outcrop.
‘Knowing the tide was receding, I knew if we could cling to something for long enough the water would eventually recede, and after being tumbled a couple of times on to another couple of rocks, that’s exactly what happened,’ Mr Brock said.
‘Battered and bruised we sat, huddled together, me taking the brunt of each breaking wave.’
On Lihou Mr Brock’s wife Morag watched the incident unfold. After losing sight of Daniel in the water, she contacted the RNLI. But the swell was too great for the inshore lifeboat, so all they could do was wait for the water to go down.
Now secure on the rocks, Daniel got into the survival bag and they were able to make contact with shore using a mobile phone.
Mr Brock said he was very grateful to the RNLI officer who came out to help them and get Daniel onto dry land. They were able to get up to their car in the car park, put on the heater and dry clothes.
It was fortunate the pair were wearing helmets. Mr Brock said he could remember being hit on the head by the kayak in the waves several times.
‘I don’t want to think what could have happened if we hadn’t been wearing helmets,’ he said.
Mr Brock said it was hard experience to deal with.
‘I did not feel when I was out there,’ he said.
‘It was complete survival mode. There was no time or space to be scared. I was just doing what I had to do. Daniel was terrified.’
‘There is no question in my mind that we are both extremely lucky to have come out of this experience alive, let alone with only minor injuries. I also have no doubt that without proper preparation and proper equipment, which seems over the top to some, we would not have made it.’
