Police are urging the public to be careful on the water after a dramatic rescue of a kayaker on Ōtaki Beach last week.

Over the summer there were eight incidents on the Kāpiti, Horowhenua, and Manawatū coastlines that required emergency assistance, Sergeant Marcus Fellerhoff said.

“Early last week, police search and rescue were alerted to a person in difficulty off Ōtaki Beach after falling from their kayak.”

Ōtaki Beach is a popular swimming and fishing spot along the Kāpiti Coast.

“They were not wearing a lifejacket and had no form of communication to call for help. The kayak was also not suitable for ocean conditions and eventually sunk.”

A joint response was launched after a person on the beach saw them get into difficulty and called emergency services.

Otaki Beach. Photo / David Haxton

The police were able to find the kayaker, working with Surf Life Saving, Coastguard Tautiaki Moana and Coastguard Manawatū, Wellington Rescue Helicopter, and a private helicopter in the area.

“The person was located sometime later cold, tired, and very lucky,” Fellerhoff said.

Police urged members of the community to ensure they were properly prepared with the right skills and equipment before going into the water.

“Wearing a lifejacket, carrying a reliable form of waterproof communication, and making sure you have equipment suitable for your activity can be the difference between coming home, or devastating consequences.”

So far this year, the area had experienced a higher than usual number of easterly winds, which could quickly push people offshore and into difficulty, Fellerhoff said.

He reminded the public to carry two reliable forms of waterproof communication, check the weather conditions, and tell someone your plans including where you are going and when you expect to be back.

Sammy Carter is a journalist for the New Zealand Herald covering news in the Wellington region. She has previously worked at the Rotorua Daily Post.