Exercise Cancelled as Search for Kayaker Undertaken

Coastguard volunteers were preparing for a search and rescue exercise on 27th August when Police advised that a kayaker was reported missing.

The man went kayaking on 26 August, leaving his vehicle at Wainui Beach, Akaroa and has not been seen since.  Coastguard units were activated around 1430 on 27th August - Blue Arrow Rescue and Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue were deployed to Akaroa to start a search.  Coastguard Canterbury Air Patrol and a helicopter also searched the peninsula area.  Later on Hamilton Jet Rescue was sent out to search bays closer to Adderley Head, Lyttelton.  Searching continued until 1900 when darkness made this impossible.  Shortly after Police managed to raise the man on his cellphone and found that he was safe and well on a bus back to his home.  He had kayaked from Akaroa to Lyttelton on a two day planned trip.  The confusion was created as he had not left any trip report or way of contacting him.  Coastguard volunteers arrived back in Lyttelton at 21.45.