A kayaker was rescued from the sea off North Flamborough Head (UK) after a passerby heard his shouts for help and called Humber Coastguard. His kayak had sunk and he had been in the water for an hour and a half dressed only in shorts and a t-shirt with a buoyancy aid.

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency give the following advice:

"If you're about to go out kayaking, make sure that you tell someone at home where you are going and when you expect to come back. And tell them how to raise the alarm (call 999 and ask for the coastguard) if you do not return when expected. Communications gear such as a handheld VHF radio and mini flares should be kept somewhere within grabbing distance in case you get into difficulty. A mobile phone inside a sealed plastic bag might be a good back up although dont rely upon it since the signal is not great along the coast. If you really want to invest, a personal locator beacon would be very useful for alerting the emergency services if you are in difficulty, whether at the coast or on land."

[full story on MCA website]