This is the incredible moment a 17-year-old kayaker was rescued by the US Coast Guard in the Pacific after being forced to tread water for more than 12 hours.
The teenager became separated from his high school paddling team on Wednesday after reportedly capsizing on a 20ft surf ski without a life jacket, half a mile south of Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu.
The Honolulu Fire Department alerted Coast Guard watchstanders at 7.27pm, prompting the launch of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and HC-130 Hercules airplane crews from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, along with a 45ft Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu.
At 4.30am on Thursday, the airplane crew spotted the kayak with the teenager clinging to it and marked the area with flares.
An off-duty lifeguard, who had been searching for him, eventually reached the boy by boat. The U.S. Coast Guard has since released a video showing the kayaker’s rescue.
17-year-old boy became separated from his high school paddling team after reportedly capsizing on a 20-foot surf ski without a life jacket
The airplane crew spotted the kayak with the teenager clinging to it and after being stranded for 12 hours
During a press conference, the lifeguard mentioned that the teen had been treading water and using the kayak as a kickboard in an attempt to reach shore, but the current was too strong, ABC News reports.
The rescuer also said the boy was in shock when found and seemed more concerned about his mother than his own saftey.
In a statement, the U.S. Coast Guard said: ‘Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders were notified by Honolulu Fire Department personnel at 7:27 p.m. Wednesday that a 17-year-old boy had gotten separated from his high school paddling team approximately one-half mile south of Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.
Video footage released by the Coast Guard shows the boat circling the boy before coming to the rescue
‘The teenager had 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 serious but stable condition’.