Hoylake and New Brighton lifeboat teams rescue surf boarder

Jan 17 2009 By Lyndsey Young

lifeboat

A MAN had to be rescued from the water near New Brighton by coastguards after the kite on his surf board became deflated.

 Two lifeboat teams from Hoylake and New Brighton were called out to save the 36-year-old who had become very tired and was drifting towards the River Mersey.

 He managed to phone the emergency services and four calls were also made by concerned members of the public who had spotted the kite surfer drifting.

 A spokesman for Merseyside Coastguard, said: "He stayed on his board and tried to get himself ashore but because the currents are quite strong in New Brighton he was heading towards the river.

 "Luckily enough the lifeboat was on exercise."

 It happened at around 2.08pm today and a Hoylake lifeboat, which was on exercise at the time and was there within minutes of the call.

 A New Brighton lifeboat team also turned up, who transferred him to shore and he was back on land within half an hour.

 The surfer was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital by ambulance, where he was checked for hypothermia.