Liverpool University Canoe Club

Deep water rescueThis is a simple rescue for getting a swimmer back into his boat, e.g. on lakes and on the sea. (Not so much use on rivers, where its usually best to get the swimmer and boat to the side.) Its a good plan to practice this in the pool, so that you can do it easily when you need to.

Back Warning! This rescue can sometimes be bad for the rescuer’s back - be careful! All boats should have adequate bouyancy, so that they are easier to rescue. People with bad backs should take care. Note, there is an alternative method for getting the swimmer into the boat, involving a strap, which puts less strain on the rescuer’s back.

Step 1. Reassure, Make contact, Instruct

Choose to say some of the following, as appropriate. Talking to the swimmer is very important - it reassures him, and you need to give him information so he can help you.

“Hold on to the front end of YOUR boat, and hold your paddle, I’m coming to get you

“Here, I am, I’ve got you, grab the front end of my boat. (Pass me your paddle) Pass me that end of your boat. Are you OK? Stay holding the front of my boat”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to help you back into your boat. Follow my instructions”

“Stop trying to climb up onto my boat, or I will hit you with this stick”

“Hooray, I’m rescuing you, you owe me beer”

Throughout the (hopefully very short) rescue, keep talking and instructing the swimmer.

Step 2 Empty the kayak

Grab the (bow=front) end of the kayak. Pull it over your deck, upside down. See-saw it over your deck until most of the water is out. The swimmer can help you with this step by using his weight to see-saw the boat. Instruct him. He can pull on one end, and then move all the way around to the other end of his boat and pull that end. He can put his feet on your boat to have something to pull against. All this is possible, but he must keep hold of your boat or his boat AT ALL TIMES - if he lets go and swim round, he may get seperated from you and swept away.

Step 3 put the boat the right way up.

Usually you will want the boat to be facing the opposite way to your boat. So as you turn it over, move it in such a way that this happens. Preferably also avoid braining the swimmer.

Step 4 Getting the swimmer back in the boat

There are various ways of doing this. The most common is as follows: The rescuer holds tight to the swimmer’s boat, in the cockpit area, with both hands, forcing the two boats together. The swimmer lies on his back between the boats, feet in air, and puts feet into the cockpit of boat. Keeping his head lying back, he then uses his hands to pull himself gradually into the boat. The rescuer maintains grip on the boat at all times.

Note there are other ways of doing this: e.g. Another method sometimes used is for the swimmer to approch from the other side of his boat, swimming and “launching” on his stomach over his own boat’s stern, and the bow of the rescuer’s boat. The swimmer now puts his feet into the cockpit. He is face down, and must now twist the right way up and then wiggle into his kayak. Another way: a large swimmer, or a rescuer with a bad back, using a strap as a foot loop / stirrup. Or for a small child swimmer, the swimmer could first lie on his stomach on the bow of the rescuer’s boat. There are many variations, suitable to different boats, try and see what’s best.

Important stuff throughout the rescue

Keeping in contact with the swimmer

The swimmer should at all times be holding on either to your boat or his. “Keep holding on to my boat.” Instruct him carefully, don’t let him let go e.g. to swim to the other side of your boat. Or you will become seperated.

Keeping hold of the Paddles

This is also very important. Unless you want to hand-paddle to Ireland. Keep hold of your paddles and the swimmer’s paddles AT ALL TIMES.

Note: You can hold both sets of paddles acrossyour deck - this will not get in the way of the swimmer when he’s getting back in the boat. This is in many ways the best option.

Or you could ask another paddler to look after the paddles. This is OK on a flat lake if there is no panic. But could be a bad idea on e.g. a choppy sea - how are you going to retrieve the paddles at the end of the rescue?

After the recovery

Keep hanging onto the swimmers boat for a little while, help him with his spraydeck. Give him his paddles. Keep chatting - has he got hyothermia? Does he seem ok? When you are ready to move the boats apart, if the conditions are choppy, tell him to get ready to low-brace, then firmly push against his boat so that his glides past yours.

Practice makes prefects.