Canoeists recovered from water

London, 22 March/GNN/ --

MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Duty Notice 1) issued by COI
News Distribution Service. 22 March 2009
At quarter past two this afternoon Humber Coastguard were alerted to two canoes off the Redcar shoreline whose occupants appeared to be in great difficulty and needed assistance.

One of the canoeists had abandoned his craft and his colleague was attempting to assist him ashore.

The Redcar Coastguard Rescue Team was immediately sent to the area and the Redcar inshore lifeboat was requested to launch.

By ten minutes to three both canoes had been retrieved with their occupants to Coatham Sands. Both men in the early 30s were from the Berwick Hills area.

Tony Tuton, Duty Watch Manager at Humber Coastguard said:

"It was very fortunate that someone spotted them from the shoreline and alerted us to the predicament the two canoeists found themselves in.

"They have both taken some safety advice from us, most particularly ensuring the next time they put to sea they have adequate communications equipment in the form of a hand held VHF transceiver, upon which they can communicate with the emergency services if they get into difficulty again, but check the weather forecast before setting off."