17-Year-Old Rescued After Clinging to Capsized Kayak for 12 Hours Overnight, Treated for Hypothermia
The boy had to be rescued after separating from his high school paddling team
A teenager, who was left clinging onto a capsized kayak for 12 hours overnight, has been found.
On Thursday, Oct. 17, the U.S. Coast Guard revealed in a statement that a 17-year-old boy had to be rescued after becoming separated from his high school paddling team "approximately one-half mile south of Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort" in Honolulu.
According to authorities, he went missing at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Coast Guard officials received a call about an hour later at 7:27 p.m.
The USCG added, "The teenager had reportedly capsized on a 20-foot surf ski and was not wearing a life jacket."
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“Sector Honolulu watchstanders issued an urgent maritime information broadcast, launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and HC-130 Hercules airplane crews from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, and launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu,” the USCG said of its search efforts.
Per the release, the teen eventually discovered holding onto the kayak by the airplane crew at 4:03 a.m. the next morning. After locating the boy, the search team “deployed a flare to mark the position offshore the War Memorial Natatorium, and directed a nearby good Samaritan boater to the location.”
The Coast Guard said that an off-duty lifeguard with the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department rescued the student from the water.
On Facebook, Coast Guard District 14 noted that he "had spent nearly 12 hours treading water" by the time he was found and rescued.
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According to ABC News, the lifeguard said in a press conference that the boy was in shock and had no emotion. "I was actually crying my guts out because he was okay,” he said, adding that the teenager told him he was worried about his mom "because she probably missed me."
The man added the teen had tried to go back to shore by treading water and using the kayak as a kickboard. However, due to the current being too strong, he was unable to.
Per the USCG, the boy was eventually taken to Ala Wai Harbor, “where he was treated for injuries and hypothermia and transported to an area emergency room.“ As of Thursday, they said he was “serious but stable condition.”
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