A MAN has been rescued off the Hornsea coast, after clinging on to his kayak to stay afloat.
The man, in his early 40s and from South Yorkshire, was seen holding on to his kayak half a mile out to sea.
Dave Lacey, a crew member from Hornsea Inshore Rescue, said the man was "very lucky" the tide was coming in and not out.
"We believe he had fallen out of his kayak out at sea and his kayak had filled with water," said Mr Lacey.
"He couldn't get back in, so was left clinging on.
"We became concerned as he hadn't moved for a while."
After initially putting in the call to the coastguard, the volunteers were told to stand down, as the RAF Sea King was in the area.
When the man got closer to the shore, the Inshore Rescue team pulled him out of the water.
Mr Lacey said: "He was between Hornsea and Mappleton and it was a bit awkward as it was a spring tide, which was coming in fast.
"He was in danger of being cut off from the beach and up against the cliffs.
"We pulled him out of the water.
"He was very fatigued and could barely lift his kayak. It will have been because he was holding on to the kayak out at sea.
"He was very lucky to escape. If the tide had been going out, he could have been in some serious trouble.
"He was very glad to see us and he was shaking everybody's hand afterwards."
Mr Lacey is warning people to keep safe during the half-term holidays.
He said: "This is usually a busy week for us being called out to everything from inflatables out at sea, to walkers being caught out by the tide."
Visit www.hornsearescue.org.uk for more information about the charity.
