X rescue

Throughout the rescue keep talking to the victim to help check early signs of hypothermia.

Approach the victim with caution....if panicking they may make a dive for your boat and lead to two swimmers instead of the one.

Two methods.....1st is usually quicker if dealing with a competent paddler in the water and better for heavier victims or when in a shorter/playboat.

Method 1

1. Get victim to hold onto the front of your boat and if possible get them to hold their paddle in the other hand.
2. Get the end of the victim's kayak and pull it up onto the deck of your boat.
3. Reach down and grab the cockpit of their kayak and continue to pull the boat over your deck. The water in the first end of the boat should pour out over your deck and the weight of the first end should pull the second up into an angle which pours the water out of the second end.
4. Now turn the boat the right way up and pull alogside your kayak so that the front of their boat is next to the back of yours.
5. Now get the swimmer to come in between the two boats.
6. Get them to lie back in the water on their buoyancy aid and kick their legs into their cockpit and put one hand on each boat to pull themselves into their boat.
7. Check they're ok, give them their paddle and continue to check for signs of hypothermia.

Method 2

1. As above but get the swimmer to pass you the front of their boat.
2. Pull the boat onto your deck.
3. To help pull the boat over the otherside of your boat get the swimmer to come round your boat and pull down on the end of their kayak.
4. Once emptied roll roll the boat over and hold it the correct way up across your deck.
5. Get the swimmer to climb onto your boat and get into their kayak.
6. Give the victim their paddle and launch them off your boat.
7. Keep an eye on them to ensure that they don't start to show signs of hypothermia.