Volunteer crews launch to lone paddler in worsening seas
RNLI volunteers from Red Bay brought a kayaker ashore to Cushendall late on Sunday after locating him in rough water north of Cushendun. The man, who had set off at about 6.30pm on 12 July, spent roughly six hours at sea before raising the alarm at around 11.30pm, according to the charity. He was found approximately 1.5 miles off Cushendun in heavy swell and easterly winds.
Both Red Bay lifeboats launched following a call to Belfast Coastguard. Crews reached the casualty, whose kayak had become swamped by the conditions, assessed him on scene and transferred him aboard one of the lifeboats for the passage back to shore. He was met at Cushendall by Ballycastle Coastguard and given casualty care before leaving the scene once he had recovered sufficiently.
Conditions turned quickly despite summer weather
Red Bay RNLI’s coxswain, Liam O’Brien, said the incident underlined how fast the sea can change, even during settled spells on land.
“This was a great outcome as the kayaker was in serious trouble after becoming overwhelmed by the sea state and pure exhaustion.
Even during the warmest weather, conditions offshore can take a bad turn very quickly and the water is extremely cold. Thankfully the kayaker managed to raise the alarm, and we were able to reach him in time.”
He urged anyone going afloat to carry a reliable way to call for help and to know what to do if unexpectedly immersed in cold water.
“Always have a means of calling for help and if you end up in the water unexpectedly, float with your head tilted back and your ears submerged with your arms and legs extended. This will calm your breathing and give you time to raise the alarm and call for help.
To raise the alarm dial 112 or 999 for the Coastguard.”
What happened and when
The following timeline sets out key stages of Sunday night’s rescue, as described by the RNLI:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| ~6.30pm | Kayaker departs the Antrim coast |
| ~1.5 miles N of Cushendun | Kayak becomes swamped in heavy swell |
| ~11.30pm | Casualty contacts Belfast Coastguard |
| Late evening | Both Red Bay lifeboats launched and locate casualty |
| Shortly after | Casualty transferred aboard lifeboat and brought to Cushendall |
| On return | Ballycastle Coastguard provides casualty care |
Safety pointers for anyone heading afloat
With warm weather drawing more people to the water along the Causeway Coast and Glens, the RNLI’s advice is a timely reminder. Key takeaways include:
- Carry a means of calling for help and keep it on your person and protected from the elements.
- Know the “float to live” technique — tilt your head back, ears in the water, arms and legs extended to control breathing.
- Check the forecast and sea state before setting out; conditions offshore can differ markedly from the shoreline.
The operation unfolded in challenging circumstances, with crews working against an easterly wind and a heavy sea swell. While the man was described as cold and exhausted when found, he was able to leave after being assessed ashore — an outcome the RNLI attributes to his decision to call for help when he did and the rapid response from volunteers.
As summer continues, the message from the coast is clear: be prepared, respect the water, and in an emergency, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
