Kayaker rescued from Down East waters; Coast Guard credits three precautions that helped survival
The Coast Guard rescued a 66-year-old man Sunday after his kayak overturned near Baileys Mistake, near Cutler.
The man radioed Sector Northern New England watchstanders on VHF ch. 16 at about 4:20 p.m. stating he was uncertain of his location and was unable to get back into his 17-foot kayak.
A 29-foot response boat small boat crew from Station Eastport arrived on scene and recovered the man, who was suffering mild hypothermic conditions. The crew took him to Cutler where Emergency Medical Services was waiting.
According to the Coast Guard, the kayaker made several good decisions that resulted in his rescue:
• He was wearing a dry suit that thermally protected him from the 44-degree water.
• He had a handheld marine radio, which he used to notify the Coast Guard.
• He activated a Personal Locator Beacon, directing rescuers to his position.
"The only reason he's alive is because he prepared for the worst-case scenario," said Capt. Michael Baroody, commander of Sector Northern New England, in a news release. "He didn't know exactly where he was, but the beacon did. And that dry suit significantly boosted his survival time."
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