Water Operations Police are reminding the public of the importance of wearing personal flotation devices when kayaking after a rescue off Encounter Bay earlier this month.
About 5.30am on Monday 17 June, police were alerted to a marine incident in waters off Encounter Bay after an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon) had been activated.
Victor Harbor Police attended and located a man floating in the water, yelling for help. A second man had made his way to a yacht anchored offshore and activated the EPIRB for assistance.
Both men had been on a fishing kayak which had capsized.
The Victor Harbor-Goolwa Sea Rescue Squadron were tasked and rescued a 40-year-old man from the water. He had been in the water for at least two-and-a-half hours. He was taken to the Flinders Medical Centre with severe hypothermia.
A 31-year-old man was rescued from the yacht.
Neither man had been wearing a personal flotation device, as required by law.
Both men, from Victor Harbor, were issued with expiation notices for failing to wear a personal flotation device.
New regulations for lifejackets came into effect in December 2017. Canoe or kayak (including a motorised canoe or kayak) must wear Level 50, Level 50S or Level 100 or above.
https://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/371066/Which-Lifejacket-do-I-need.pdf
