This is the incredible moment a 17-year-old kayaker was rescued by the US Coast Guard in the Pacific Ocean after treading water for more than 12 hours.
The teen became separated from his high school paddling team on Wednesday after he reportedly capsized on a 20-foot surf ski without a life jacket a half-mile south of the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu.
The Honolulu Fire Department alerted Coast Guard watchstanders at 7:27 p.m., prompting the launch of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and HC-130 Hercules aircrews from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, along with a 45ft Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu.
At 4:30 a.m. Thursday, the aircrew spotted the kayak with the teen attached to it and marked the area with flares.
An off-duty lifeguard who was looking for him eventually reached the boy by boat. The U.S. Coast Guard has since released video showing the kayaker’s rescue.
17-year-old boy got separated from his high school paddling team after reportedly capsizing on a 20-foot surf ski without a life jacket
The flight crew spotted the kayak with the teen clinging to it after he had been stranded for 12 hours
During a news conference, the lifeguard said the teen treaded water and used the kayak as a kickboard in an attempt to reach shore, but the current was too strong, ABC News reported.
The rescuer also said the boy was in shock when he was found and seemed more concerned about his mother than his own safety.
In a statement, the U.S. Coast Guard said: “Watchstanders from the Honolulu Coast Guard Sector were notified by Honolulu Fire Department personnel Wednesday at 7:27 p.m. that a 17-year-old boy had become approximately half separated from his paddling team on the secondary school. miles south of Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.
Video footage released by the Coast Guard shows the boat circling the boy before rushing to help
Incredible footage showed the coastguard dragging the young kayaker aboard 12 hours after he went missing in the Pacific Ocean.
“The teen reportedly capsized on a 20-foot surf ski and was not wearing a life jacket.”
“The Good Samaritan, an off-duty lifeguard with the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department, rescued the boy from the water.
“At 5:25 a.m., the off-duty lifeguard transported the 17-year-old to emergency medical services personnel at Ala Wai Harbor, where he was treated for injuries and hypothermia and transported to an area emergency room.
“He was in a serious but stable condition.”