Three kayakers got into difficultly on Derwent Water and made the decision to call for help.

Late yesterday evening, May 16, multiple agencies responded to a 999 call from a kayaker on Derwent Water, Keswick after they had become disoriented in the dark.

A spokesperson for Whitehaven Coastguard said: “These kayakers were very well equipped and experienced for their adventure, but with one of them having ended up in the water, the group then becoming disorientated and decided the best course of action was to raise the alarm for assistance.

“This type of incident, and with the improved weather now arriving, shows the importance of personnel who take to the water on our coast and lakes needing to carry multiple means of being able to raise the alarm for help (Personal Locator Beacons, VHF Radio Ch16, distress flares, mobile phone in waterproof pouch) and not being worried to use these to summon emergency assistance early if required.”

Belfast Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received the 999 call and shortly before 11:30pm (23:30) a multiagency response was initiated involving; Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team, Maryport Coastguard Rescue Team, Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, Maryport Rescue and Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 from Prestwick.

The initial call came from the kayaker reported one kayaker had entered the water but managed to successfully right and reenter their kayak.

Now disorientated in the vicinity of Barrow Bay to Great Bay area on the southern side of Derwent Water in the dark and no phone signal, one kayaker managed to return ashore to get phone signal and raise the alarm.

With multiple teams arriving on scene and a command point established, rescue boats and land based search teams were very swiftly underway to locate both the first kayaker who had raised the alarm and their other two companions who were still lost and disorientated, but had now confirmed they had managed to make it safely ashore.

With all three kayakers swiftly located and ashore, and confirmed to have no injuries, all involved were stood down.