Teen clings to capsized kayak for 12 hours in Hawaii ocean before off-duty lifeguard spots him

[Carla_Sinclair]

Originally published at: Teen clings to capsized kayak for 12 hours in Hawaii ocean before off-duty lifeguard spots him - Boing Boing

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[SmilingDemon]

[Grey_Devil]

There’s a discrepancy in how this is being reported. Headline says the off-duty lifeguard spotted him but:

At around 4 a.m. Thursday, after searching for over eight hours, a US Coast Guard airplane crew spotted the kayak and the teenager clinging onto it. They deployed a flare to mark the position, contacted Keaulana – the nearest boater – by radio and directed him to Kahiau’s location

The lifeguard definitely was important but the coast guard did a good job spotting him and getting people to him glad he’s safe, i can’t image how traumatic this must be for everyone involved.

Edit: re-read the BB post and there is definitely a mistake in there. Says the lifeguard saw him from a helicopter. That’s not in the original article at all.

[anothernewbbaccount]

And was it a ‘surf ski’ or a kayak? Or is that what kayaks are also called these days?

But he is a very lucky young man, thankfully.

[Otherbrother]

I’m a little confused by the timeline, and this detail:

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders were notified by Honolulu Fire Department personnel at 7:27 p.m. Wednesday that a 17-year-old boy had gotten separated from his high school paddling team approximately one-half mile south of Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort. The teenager had reportedly capsized on a 20-foot surf ski and was not wearing a life jacket.

How did they know at that point that he’d capsized? If someone had witnessed it, why didn’t they get him help at that time?

Thankfully they found him in time, and this was a location where it’s possible to spend the night in the water without succumbing to hypothermia.

[Haikumatt]

I hope that coach is looking for a new job. If a team sport involves being on the f-ing ocean and someone being missing can go unnoticed for hours, that’s a woeful lack of safety protocols and training.

And if I was that kid, I’d have serious reservations about returning to a team that didn’t miss me for hours.

[CCinBmore]

@anothernewbbaccount

And was it a ‘surf ski’ or a kayak? Or is that what kayaks are also called these days?

I’d say that “surf ski” is a subset of “kayak”. It’s a single hull paddled from a central position with a two-blade paddle, which is pretty much the lay-definition of a kayak. It’s just a specialized form.

[anothernewbbaccount]

@Otherbrother

was not wearing a life jacket.

This is an equally egregious oversight.

@Haikumatt

a woeful lack of safety protocols

Indeed!

[GilbertWham]

Damn straight. Theres absolutely a side of criminal negligence to go with the joyous rescue, like.