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• A Lucky Escape

A Lucky Escape.

Last Sunday the 6 July, after rigging up my kayak with improvised anchor trolley with bits and bobs from B&Q (I do not have any chandler's nearby), make shift anchor from scrap metal pieces found in my garage, and a crate from B&Q, I was finally ready to go on my first kayak fishing trip.

The forecast was for a dry afternoon at Llangorse Lake with moderate winds.

It took me 1 hour 50 min. to get there from Kidderminster - a very pleasant journey.

I arrived at the lakes reception at 12.15 pm, paid £12.50 for launching and fishing and prepared the yak. At 1.30 pm the yak was ready to go in the water.

I started paddling across the wind and the rudder performed excellently. I kept a steady course with ease.

The sun was shining, the wind was blowing and I was paddling on a kayak at last.

In 20 minutes I reached the reeds at the Southwest end of the lake, and anchored in 6 feet of water.

My improvised anchor system was working well.

I began fishing for roach to use as bait. My very first cast produced an excellent size roach - just right for bait, at last my first fish caught from a kayak!

The roach went on the trebles of the pike float rig and a gentle lob chucked it 20 yards out. The waiting game began.

15 minutes later I noticed that the kayak had started to keel over to the left. When I opened the central hatch I realised that the hull was filling with water. I quickly reeled in and started to retrieve the anchor, managing to pull it back in the yak, not an easy task with the kayak becoming unstable.

I started to paddle as fast as I could towards the launch site which was on the other side of the lake. I thought I would reach it quickly with the wind behind me, but as I reached the middle of the lake the kayak suddenly tipped over, I was in the water.

I managed to right the kayak but it was now impossible to get back onboard due to the amount of water inside the hull. My rods were in the water hanging from my make shift rod leashes. I pulled them out of the water and put them in the rod holders. Everything was secured to the kayak with leashes except for the anchor, which had fallen out during the capsize and was now anchored on the bottom of the lake, however hard I tried I was unable to pull it up, the yak remained anchored to the bottom in the middle of the lake.

My mobile was in my PFD front pocket but not in a waterproof bag, it was soaked and no longer working. My only means of raising the alarm was the whistle in the PFD, I started blowing; There was nobody around.

My paddle pants started filling up with water and felt as if they were pulling me down. Thankfully I had just bought a new PFD which was helping to keep me afloat, although I wouldn't risk letting go of the kayak. I am sure that If I had tried to swim to the shore I would have drowned.

I was in the water for almost an hour, the boats on the lake when I arrived had all disappeared. An old lady walking her dog appeared on the bank, but did not appear to hear my whistle. When I started waving at her she realised I am in trouble and went towards the parked cars at the south end car park. She must have raised the alarm because in 10 minutes all the hell broke loose. There was a helicopter hovering over my head, a rescue boat appeared, the fire brigade, the police and an ambulance with sirens were all arriving at the lake.

I was dragged into the rescue boat

I had survived! Thank god!

I was shaking with hypothermia and it was three hours before I managed to recover enough to make the drive home. The kayak was dragged out of the lake half full of water. It took 20 minutes to drain the water from the drainage plug, another gallon came out from the open hatches.

My details were taken by the police and other emergency services for their reports, I was becoming increasingly embarrassed by the trouble I had caused.

With warm dry clothes and a few cups of tea inside me, I loaded the kayak on the car with the kind help of my rescuers. I was glad to leave the car park.

The kayak has been returned to the shop for a safety inspection, I hope to get it back soon as I'm determined to get back on the water and catch a Pike. But next time I'll have some flares and my mobile in a waterproof pouch.

With hindsight it would have been sensible to head for the nearest land to empty the kayak and see what was causing the leak before attempting the paddle to the slipway and staying close to shore on the paddle back.

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