Case of missing kayaker solved by single phone call

A major search for a kayaker who was last seen leaving the Isle of Lewis on Christmas Day was finally called off by Stornoway Coastguard when the kayaker called the Coastguard to confirm that he was safe and well.

The kayaker left his vehicle in the small community of Carishader on the Isle of Lewis on Christmas Day. He was seen heading out with a kayak and not seen returning.

Stornoway Coastguard also asked the Police for assistance in tracing contact details for the owner of the vehicle and following yesterday’s Force 9 winds with rain and sleet Stornoway Coastguard started a major search at 8.30am this morning. Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Stornoway, the volunteer Coastguard Rescue teams from Miavaig, Breasclete and Stornoway and the Western Isles Sector Manager were asked to search the Loch Roag area between Uig and Bernera. The RNLI All-weather lifeboat from Stornoway was also asked to head to Loch Roag and three boats from Sea Trek and three boats from Scottish Salmon joined the search.

At 11.08 this morning the missing kayaker, responding to an answer phone message on his phone, called Stornoway Coastguard to confirm he was safe and well.

Ed Thompson, Watch Manager at Stornoway Coastguard said
"Miavaig is a small community so a parked van is likely to be noticed, particularly when the driver is seen heading out with a kayak. One simple phone call to us to say where you’re going and how long you intend to be away could have saved an awful lot of searching today.

“I’d like to thank the resident of Carishader for alerting us to the ‘missing’ kayaker. The weather wasn’t good yesterday and if the kayaker had been in trouble it could have been the only way we’d known that they were in trouble.”

-Notes to Editors-
• The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities. Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and career opportunities available to young people within the UK growing maritime sector. http://www.seavisionuk.org/
• Stay safe - before heading out on the water get trained, check weather and tides, wear a lifejacket, avoid alcohol and keep in touch
• Follow us on Twitter. Find us at MCA_media

For further information please contact
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on:
(023) 8032 9401
Press releases and further information about the Agency is available on the Web at http://www.mcga.gov.uk/

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