Kayaker thankful to be alive | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
Kayaker thankful to be alive
Ricky Daniels. PICTURE: CHRIS BRAMWELL (291104cb1)
By CHRIS BRAMWELL in Taupo
Ricky Daniels has a piece of wood and a woman out walking her dog to thank for saving his life.
The 19-year-old was the focus of a dramatic rescue at Taupo's control gates bridge on Sunday night and was yesterday still thanking his lucky stars.
Mr Daniels was kayaking on the Waikato River near the bridge at about 7pm when he was flipped out of his kayak coming out of an eddy near the river bank.
"I thought I would try to rail the whirlpool near the bridge. So I waited a while by the bank and sussed it out, then went for it," he told The Daily Post yesterday.
"The boat started shaking then I fell in. I still had the paddle and the kayak though."
Mr Daniels lay on the kayak with his arms underneath for some time trying to guide himself out of the churning water but was thrown off again and swept under the bridge.
Pressed against the wall of the bridge with the kayak up against the side, he could see a piece of wood jammed between the gate and the wall and tried to reach it. It was too high.
When the kayak was swept closer to him he clambered on to it and was just able to reach the piece of wood, which was large enough for him to perch on.
"I sat there for about 10 minutes wondering what I was going to do next. I kept thinking about my girlfriend and my mum.
"I was yelling for help. I made sure that if anyone heard they knew it was for real," Mr Daniels said.
Eventually he caught the attention of a woman walking her dog downstream and she called the police.
Emergency services arrived, along with the Taupo harbour master, the Lion Foundation Rescue Helicopter, Mighty River Power and several of Mr Daniels' friends.
Police described the rescue operation as difficult because of how far Mr Daniels was up the stream and under the bridge.
"I saw lots of people out there ... Henry from the Fire Service was yelling to me asking if I was okay and I said I was sweet, but I was getting a bit cold."
The control gates were closed to reduce the river flow as much as possible so the rescuers could try and get to Mr Daniels.
Rescuers managed to get a line to him and secured him with a harness. He had to leap into the water before being hauled up on to the bridge.
At about 10.30pm Mr Daniels was hoisted to safety over the bridge railing.
"I could see Dave Frazer from the police as I was coming up. He had a big smile on his face, all my friends were like 'Rick - what are you up to?'."
"My adrenaline was totally pumping and I was yabbering away to the St John paramedics as they checked me out."
Mr Daniels was treated for mild hypothermia and sent home where, once he had calmed down, he took to his bed. He was back at work yesterday afternoon with just a few scratches to show for his 3 1/2-hour ordeal.
"I keep thinking about how lucky I was that that piece of wood was there for me to sit on, and that lady was walking her dog when she was ... I could have died."
Ricky Daniels has a piece of wood and a woman out walking her dog to thank for saving his life.
The 19-year-old was the focus of a dramatic rescue at Taupo's control gates bridge on Sunday night and was yesterday still thanking his lucky stars.
Mr Daniels was kayaking on the Waikato River near the bridge at about 7pm when he was flipped out of his kayak coming out of an eddy near the river bank.
"I thought I would try to rail the whirlpool near the bridge. So I waited a while by the bank and sussed it out, then went for it," he told The Daily Post yesterday.
"The boat started shaking then I fell in. I still had the paddle and the kayak though."
Mr Daniels lay on the kayak with his arms underneath for some time trying to guide himself out of the churning water but was thrown off again and swept under the bridge.
Pressed against the wall of the bridge with the kayak up against the side, he could see a piece of wood jammed between the gate and the wall and tried to reach it. It was too high.
When the kayak was swept closer to him he clambered on to it and was just able to reach the piece of wood, which was large enough for him to perch on.
"I sat there for about 10 minutes wondering what I was going to do next. I kept thinking about my girlfriend and my mum.
"I was yelling for help. I made sure that if anyone heard they knew it was for real," Mr Daniels said.
Eventually he caught the attention of a woman walking her dog downstream and she called the police.
Emergency services arrived, along with the Taupo harbour master, the Lion Foundation Rescue Helicopter, Mighty River Power and several of Mr Daniels' friends.
Police described the rescue operation as difficult because of how far Mr Daniels was up the stream and under the bridge.
"I saw lots of people out there ... Henry from the Fire Service was yelling to me asking if I was okay and I said I was sweet, but I was getting a bit cold."
The control gates were closed to reduce the river flow as much as possible so the rescuers could try and get to Mr Daniels.
Rescuers managed to get a line to him and secured him with a harness. He had to leap into the water before being hauled up on to the bridge.
At about 10.30pm Mr Daniels was hoisted to safety over the bridge railing.
"I could see Dave Frazer from the police as I was coming up. He had a big smile on his face, all my friends were like 'Rick - what are you up to?'."
"My adrenaline was totally pumping and I was yabbering away to the St John paramedics as they checked me out."
Mr Daniels was treated for mild hypothermia and sent home where, once he had calmed down, he took to his bed. He was back at work yesterday afternoon with just a few scratches to show for his 3 1/2-hour ordeal.
"I keep thinking about how lucky I was that that piece of wood was there for me to sit on, and that lady was walking her dog when she was ... I could have died."
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