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Charity sail for wife ends in rescue with kayaker stranded off NSW South Coast

Dramatic footage has captured the emotional moment a kayaker was pulled from waters off the NSW South Coast.

Malcolm Skelton set off 11 days ago, hoping to paddle from Coffs Harbour to New Zealand.

However treacherous conditions pushed him off course and he was rescued 20 kilometres from Batemans Bay, ending his very personal mission to raise awareness about a rare disease.

Rescue crews rushed to save kayaker Malcolm Skelton stranded off the NSW South Coast. Picture: 7 News
Rescue crews rushed to save kayaker Malcolm Skelton stranded off the NSW South Coast. Picture: 7 News

Mr Skelton took little relief in being rescued, but was overwhelmed in sadness his courageous dream of kayaking across the Tasman has come to a premature end.

"It is good to be on land but it is with a deal of disappointment," he told 7 News.

He took on the 2150 kilometre journey from Coffs Harbour to New Plymouth to raise awareness for a rare, debilitating condition called Freidrich's ataxia.

There are only 72 cases of the incurable and untreatable neuro-muscular disorder in Australia - his wife Sarah among them.

Just 11 days and 11 cold nights into the 50-day journey, strong winds pushed him off course. Picture: 7 News
Just 11 days and 11 cold nights into the 50-day journey, strong winds pushed him off course. Picture: 7 News

"No one should have to see their partner go through this. No one," Mr Skelton said.

"I want to make Freidrich's ataxia a thing that's only destined for history books."

But just 11 days and 11 cold nights into his 50-day journey, strong winds pushed him off course.

A passing Vietnamese ship hauled him to safety. Picture: 7 News
A passing Vietnamese ship hauled him to safety. Picture: 7 News

"And it looked like I was going to end up in Antartica playing with the penguins," he joked.

Facing a split second decision Mr Skelton put his hand up for help near Bateman's Bay catching the attention of a passing Vietnamese ship which hauled him to safety.

"The decision was to err on the safe side because my safety always comes first," he said.

He took on the 2150 kilometre journey from Coffs Harbour to New Plymouth to raise awareness for a rare, debilitating condition called Freidrich's ataxia, which his wife Sarah suffers from Picture: 7 News
He took on the 2150 kilometre journey from Coffs Harbour to New Plymouth to raise awareness for a rare, debilitating condition called Freidrich's ataxia, which his wife Sarah suffers from Picture: 7 News


Waiting for him on dry land was 12-year-old Freidrich's ataxia sufferer Cohen Arnold and his family, who heard about Mr Skelton's rescue and headed to Newcastle to thank him.

"It plays with his [Cohen's] motor skills, so he has no balance for walking. He's in a wheelchair most of the time now," Mr Arnold said.

Mr Skelton planned to make another sail attempt as soon as his boat was returned. Head to the MyCause page to donate.